Akshay Kumar reacts to National Film Awards controversy, “I’ve never called in a favour to bag a movie or an award”
Since it was announced that Akshay Kumar is the winner of the 64th National Film Awards for his performance in Rustom, he along with the jury head, director Priyadarshan received a lot of flak from various people on social media. Many were of opinion that Priyadarshan’s proximity to Akshay Kumar is the reason for his undeserving win. Talking to Mumbai Mirror, when Akshay Kumar was asked to react to the same, he said, “I have completed 25 years in the film industry and I’ve never called in a favour to bag a movie or an award. As for Priyan favouring me, I think he has answered that question in your newspaper.”
He was probably referring to Priyadarshan’s statement to Mirror when he said, “Akshay Kumar deserved the award and we gave it to him. There were a total of 38 jury members with me on this. How can you question the decision of so many people? Ramesh Sippy headed the jury last year. When he gave Best Actor to Amitabh Bachchan for Piku why didn’t anyone question him?”
Not just this Akshay also spoke about the big box office clash with Shah Rukh Khan this Independence Day, he said, “My film is coming on August 11 because it’s a big date and an opportune time. Besides, Independence Day, there is another holiday in the same week. Such long weekends can easily take two big releases. Ghayal and Dil clashed, as did Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and Lagaan.” When asked about the personal implications it has on one’s relationship, he said, ““Box-office clashes are professional hazards and ideally they should not have any personal implications. In a situation where we have 200 movies to be accommodated in 52 weeks, clashes have become unavoidable. I’m aware that (we don’t live in an ideal world). But I’m not willing to draw blood or go to war over a movie.”