Akshay Kumar, a titan of Hindi cinema for over three decades and fondly nicknamed “Khiladi” (Player), has consistently captivated audiences with his comedic flair and action prowess. He has skillfully balanced these genres, establishing a dedicated fanbase across both. Prior to the COVID-19 lockdown, Kumar enjoyed a golden period with critically acclaimed message-driven films and patriotic narratives, including “Airlift,” “Padman,” and “Kesari.” These projects resonated deeply with viewers, solidifying his position as a bankable star.
However, the post-lockdown landscape appears to have presented a challenge for Kumar. While “Sooryavanshi” achieved significant success, a string of subsequent releases failed to replicate that achievement. This has sparked a conversation around a potential decline in his box office performance.
Kumar’s reputation for completing films swiftly and delivering a high volume of projects (often 3-4 per year) may have inadvertently contributed to a saturation effect. Films like “Bell Bottom,” “Bachchan Pandey,” “Samrat Prithviraj,” and “Raksha Bandhan” all underperformed commercially. This trend continued with recent releases like “Cutputli,” “Ram Setu,” and “Selfie,” further jeopardizing his box office dominance.
His latest offering, “Sarfira,” opened with a meager 4 crore collection, a stark contrast to his past success delivering 100 crore grossing films with apparent ease. These box office numbers paint a concerning picture for an actor who has consistently commanded high box office value.
Even “Mission Raniganj” and “Selfie,” with opening days of 3.8 crores and 4.2 crores respectively, failed to meet commercial expectations. “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,” while grossing 31 crores, benefitted significantly from its multi-starrer format, featuring Tiger Shroff as a co-lead.
With “Sarfira” joining the list of underperforming films, the industry ponders Akshay Kumar’s next move. While his project pipeline remains full, a course correction appears necessary. The nature of this change and its potential impact on his career trajectory remain to be seen.
