The education ministry needs to take cognizance of the contribution of Hindu kings and balance out their stories with those of Mughal emperors who enjoy more space in school texts, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar said on Wednesday
Ahead of the release of his film Samrat Prithviraj, a historical action drama based on the warrior Rajput king, Kumar said it's sad we don't know about our own kings.
"There were only three-four lines about Samrat Prithviraj in the history books that I read. Thanks to this film, I got to know so much about him. I don't think anyone else also knew about him,? Kumar told PTI in an interview.
"When I was talking to my son about him (Prithviraj), he said 'I know about the British empire, Mughal empire, but who's he?' So it's a sad thing that we don't know about our own kings. There were only a few lines about Rana Pratap, Rani of Jhansi. But there are a lot of chapters on Mughals," he added.
Kumar described his film, which was earlier titled Prithviraj and was rechristened last week following protests by the Shree Rajput Karni Sena, as an "educational film set in a commercial way".
"I would appeal to the education ministry to try and (bring about) balance and bring our culture, Hindu kings also in our textbooks," Kumar said
Kumar was in Delhi to promote his film and paid floral tributes at Qila Rai Pithoragarh, a south Delhi complex housing a statue of Prithviraj Chauhan
Samrat Prithviraj, produced by Yash Raj Films, is directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi.
Kumar said he was surprised when Dwivedi, known for directing the 1991 TV show Chanakya and the 2003 Partition film Pinjar, approached him for the project.
"I was not sure whether I'll be able to pull this off or not. The way Samrat Prithviraj has been depicted in history books, he's a little stout. I don't match it (the image). But he was confident that according to him, his imagination, he (Prithviraj) was an athletic person. I said let's do it," the 54-year-old actor said.
He also weighed in on the 'north versus south' cinema debate, saying he would rather talk about uniting film industries from across the country than comment on a non-issue.
"Both industries are one. The British ruled over us for 200 years using 'Divide and Rule', we are dividing (our country) again by doing all these things. We are India. They are making films in their mother tongue, we are making films in our mother tongue.
"We should talk about uniting us. Let's say, Allu Arjun and I do a film together or Shah Rukh and Vijay are working on a film. Let's wish for such things. Not things like 'They are eating into your (film's) business'," he argued.
Responding to the recent controversy on India's national language, Kumar said, ?All languages are national languages."
"I'm happy speaking my mother tongue (Punjabi), I think my mother tongue is the best. A Tamil person thinks his (language) is the best. I don't understand what the debate is about. We are all in one culture, one country.
"There was suddenly a roar (furore) about all this and I didn't understand what was wrong with us? After reading so much history, we are still fighting about is 'my language is ok', 'that language is wrong'. I just believe in just being together," Kumar, who is currently shooting for the Hindi remake of the 2020 Tamil film "Soorarai Pottru", said.
India doesn't have a national language. The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution recognises 22 languages
Kumar, who completed three decades in cinema last year, belting out a series of hits including Sooryavanshi and Bell Bottom, said he hopes to keep working
"I just want to keep on working till they have to shoot me down. I only know how to do this work. A lot of business opportunities come up but I don't get into them much. I have made some investments in some businesses. That's all I know.
"But I can't run a business. There's no point in getting into something one has no knowledge about. In the coming 30 years, I see myself working in this industry. I can't go anywhere else," he added.
As a child, the actor said he had been more into stories than studies.
"My parents would tell me a lot of stories. Growing up, I watched films and read comics on 'Tarzan'. So my hero was 'Tarzan'. I used to love comics such as 'Amar Chitra Katha', 'Mandrake the Magician', 'Bahadur', 'Phantom', etc."
Samrat Prithviraj also stars Sanjay Dutt, Sonu Sood and marks the screen debut of Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar. The film is scheduled to release on Friday.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.