Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

History books have few lines on Samrat Prithviraj, lot of chapters on Mughals: Akshay Kumar

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.

History books have few lines on Samrat Prithviraj, lot of chapters on Mughals: Akshay Kumar

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.

More For You

Jameela Jamil: Pixar’s Elio Offers Hope for Youth

Jameela Jamil says Pixar’s Elio brings a fresh message of empowerment for kids across the globe

Getty Images

Jameela Jamil says Pixar’s ‘Elio’ is the hope young people need in a chaotic world

At a time when the world feels chaotic and heavy, Disney Pixar’s Elio arrives with a message that couldn’t be more relevant: kids matter, and they’re stronger than they realise.

The animated film, which had its star-studded premiere in Los Angeles this week, follows an 11-year-old boy who accidentally becomes Earth’s ambassador in outer space. Directed by Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, Elio is Pixar’s first feature with a Mexican-Dominican lead, voiced by Yonas Kibreab. His character’s journey from an outsider on Earth to a confident connector among aliens mirrors what many young people feel today: lost, overlooked, and searching for belonging.

Keep ReadingShow less
Child Fame Costs: HBO’s New Young Harry Potter Reboot Stars

The new trio cast as Harry, Hermione and Ron step into a world where childhood and fame rarely mix well

Instagram/harrypotter/Getty Images

From Hogwarts to headlines, the real cost of childhood fame for Harry Potter’s new stars

As HBO prepares to bring Harry Potter back to screens with a new television adaptation, excitement is high around the casting of Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout as the iconic trio of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. But amid the buzz, a quiet voice of caution has emerged. Chris Watson, father of original Hermione actress Emma Watson, is urging parents and the industry to tread carefully when it comes to child stardom.

Chris Watson is not speaking as a critic or industry insider but as someone who watched his daughter grow up inside a global franchise. Emma was nine when she landed the role of Hermione Granger, and what followed was a decade of public attention that reshaped her life. Her father remembers the shift vividly. “Her homework would go back to school on motorbikes,” he once said, pointing to the surreal logistics fame forced on them.

Keep ReadingShow less
DJ Funky T’s Top Indian Music Picks; Playlist Revealed

DJ Funky T

My Playlist: DJ Funky T reveals his top Indian music picks

With a massive music collection spanning several decades, multi-genre DJ and music producer DJ Funky T found it challenging to narrow down just 10 songs he loves. Also known as Tony Hayer, his favourites range from Michael Jackson, Dr Dre and Fleetwood Mac to Bollywood, Punjabi, Hindi, Sufi and more. Some of these diverse influences feature in his own track Tu Meri Rani Si.

Before revealing his choices, he said: “The following golden tracks have stood the test of time. It was a hard call, as many more songs could have made this list. So, in no particular order from my current conscious memory, I present 10 Indian songs I love. Check them out and enjoy.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Najmuddin Saifuddin & Brothers Deliver Qawwali Masterclass

NAJMUDDIN SAIFUDDIN & BROTHERS QAWWALI GROUP

www.easterneye.biz

Najmuddin Saifuddin & Brothers deliver a soul-stirring qawwali masterclass across the UK

Qawwali remains popular with cross-cultural audiences, but very few get the chance to experience one of the world’s oldest music genres in its purest form. Whether it is the diluted style seen in Bollywood adaptations or fusion with contemporary sounds, the tradition is often watered down.

Najmuddin Saifuddin & Brothers Qawwali Group stand apart from that commercialised crowd, presenting the Sufi genre in its most authentic style. The five talented brothers – sons of the late qawwali icon Ustad Bahauddin Khan Qawwal – belong to a remarkable lineage that traces directly back to the first group formed by the genre’s founding father in the 13th century.

Keep ReadingShow less
Fearless Documentary Honor Windrush Women for Modern Britain
In the Fearless documentary, Windrush generation women reflect on their lives in post-war Britain
Instagram/dopdaniel/alt_africa_

‘Fearless’ documentary honours Windrush women who built modern Britain but were written out of history

They were the nurses, cleaners, activists, and everyday heroes who arrived in Britain with little more than courage and determination. Now in their 80s and 90s, six women who helped rebuild the UK after the Second World War are finally getting their due in Fearless, a powerful new documentary that brings their remarkable stories to the big screen.

Launching on Windrush Day (22 June), the film will tour select cinemas across London through July, with post-screening Q&As featuring the directors and cast. It celebrates the lives of Sheila Daniel, Aileen Edwards, Maggie Kelly, Anne Gaché, Nashattar Kang, and Nages Amirthananthar, women of Caribbean, Irish, and South Asian descent who came to Britain as part of the Windrush generation and beyond.

Keep ReadingShow less