Akshay Kumar Doesn't Get His Due, People Don't Take Him Seriously: Filmmaker Vipul Shah

Akshay Kumar may be one of Bollywood’s busiest stars, releasing 4–5 films every year, but filmmaker Vipul Shah believes the actor has never truly received the respect and recognition he deserves. Despite a career spanning decades and an enviable work ethic, critics have often dismissed him, something Shah feels is deeply unfair.

"People never considered him a great actor"

Speaking to Galata Plus, Vipul Shah said, “When I worked with Akshay in my first two films, I realized this is an actor who doesn’t even know the full extent of his own potential. Back then, he was branded only as an action hero. Later, when he tried to reinvent himself with comedy films, people still didn’t take him seriously. Critics never saw him as a great or even a good actor. That created a kind of ‘I don’t care’ attitude in him. But I always felt he had much more to offer.”

Effortless versatility

Shah also praised Akshay’s ability to switch seamlessly between roles. “One day he’s doing a comic scene, the next day a serious thriller sequence—and he dives into it with complete conviction. He carries no baggage from his past performances, and his character never breaks. That’s rare.”

"A Punjabi at heart"

The filmmaker recalled how Namaste London allowed Akshay to finally showcase his true self. “He is a Punjabi at heart and soul, but nobody had portrayed him that way before. In Namaste London, he got the space to be himself—a fun-loving, carefree Punjabi munda. He slipped into the role as smoothly as silk because it was most natural to him.”

Vipul Shah’s words highlight what fans have always believed—that Akshay Kumar is more than just a ‘Khiladi’ or comedy star. He’s an actor with range, depth, and the ability to reinvent himself, even if critics have often failed to acknowledge it.