Censor Board puts OMG 2 on hold: Akshay Kumar's woes continue after a series of flops

Akshay Kumar: Will OMG 2 bring back the box office star after a rollercoaster ride? Let's find out!,

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Akshay Kumar is one of the most prolific and versatile actors in Bollywood, who has been delivering films across genres and themes for over three decades. However, his recent films have not been working at the box office, despite his efforts to cater to different audiences and platforms.

The Khiladi Kumar of Bollywood was once ruling at the box office but will he make a comeback of his career again after a slew of flops? Let's look at Akshay Kumar's journey in the film industry, his ups and downs, and the prospects of a prospective comeback.

Well, let us tell you that this is not the first time where Akshay Kumar is seeing a downfall in his career. When he started his journey as an actor in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Kumar enjoyed a remarkable run of success with a string of superhits in films like "Mohra," "Khiladi," and "Sangharsh." In films like "Hera Pheri" and "Welcome," where he displayed amazing comic timing, he further cemented his status as one of Bollywood's most marketable actors. But then, in the mid-2000s, he faced a series of box office failures when films like "Tashan," "Chandni Chowk to China," and "Blue" failed to resonate with audiences, leading to a decline in his star power. Critics questioned his choice of scripts and the repetitive nature of his roles, causing fans to grow wary of his films.

Just as it seemed that Kumar's career was spiralling downwards, he made a remarkable comeback with the 2012 satirical comedy-drama "OMG: Oh My God!" The film, in which he played a modern-day Lord Krishna, struck a chord with both audiences and critics. Kumar's nuanced performance and the film's thought-provoking narrative showcased his versatility as an actor and won him accolades. The film was a super hit.

Despite his successes, Akshay Kumar has not been immune to public backlash. Netizens have often criticized him not just for the film but for calling him "Canadian Kumar" due to his Canadian citizenship. This criticism stems from a perception that Kumar prioritizes his career in Canada over his contributions to Indian cinema. Additionally, he faced online trolling for endorsing a pan masala brand, with many questioning his responsibility as a public figure promoting potentially harmful products. Although he appeared in the advertisement alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn, two other big names, it was only Akshay who received criticism, mainly because he always lives a clean and healthy lifestyle and thus came under suspicion of endorsing something he does not adhere to.

His push into socially significant films like "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha," "Kesari," "Mission Mangal" and "Pad Man" shows his commitment to taking on important issues and engaging people in ways that go beyond simple pleasure. Even for this, though, the actor began to receive trolls since every time India witnessed something positive, whether it be in sports or politics, people began a trend of memes on Kumar, stating he would work harder than others to now make a movie about the topic as he only appears in remakes.

While Akshay Kumar's recent films include the historic drama "Samrat Prithviraj", the espionage thriller "Bell Bottom," family dramas, "Selfiee", "Rakshabandhan", "Ram Setu," "Cuttputlli", and "Bachcchan Paandey" failed to attract the viewers to the theatres or OTT platforms, all eyes are now on his upcoming film OMG 2. The movie is a follow-up to the 2012 film OMG - Oh My God starring Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal, which was loved by the audience as well as the critics. OMG 2 stars Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva, Pankaj Tripathi as Kanti Sharan Mudgal, a shopkeeper who challenges God in court, and Yami Gautam Dhar as Kamini Maheshwari, a lawyer who helps Kanti. The film is written and directed by Amit Rai and is scheduled to be released on 11 August 2023.

OMG 2 is expected to be a witty and entertaining film that will also reflect on an important social issue. Akshay Kumar has said that he is proud to play Lord Shiva and that he needs the blessings and wishes of the audience for the film. However, OMG 2 might face some challenges before its release, as it has been reportedly sent for further reviewing by the Censor Board amid the controversy surrounding Adipurush, another film based on Hindu mythology starring Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan. The Censor Board has taken preemptive measures to ensure that the film’s dialogues and scenes do not attract criticism and backlash from any section of the society, according to reports.

For the unversed, Adipurush by Om Raut has been dogged by controversy ever since it came out last month. Prabhas plays Raghava, Kriti plays Janaki, Sunny Singh plays Laxman, and Saif Ali Khan plays Lankesh in the movie. The speech, outfits, and cartoonish images of the movie drew criticism. A reworked version of the movie was later released after some of the dialogue was changed. Manoj Muntashir, who wrote the dialogue for Adipurush, also apologised 'unconditionally' after the uproar. He had acknowledged that Adipurush had offended individuals in his note of apology.

Returning to Akshay, the actor faces additional pressure because OMG 2 is the continuation of his own successful film. It will really backfire on the superstar if the film fails to do well at the box office or somehow hurts the audience's sentiments. Since Akshay is portraying Lord Shiva, it is crucial for him to live up to people's expectations since any kind of wrong portrayal of Shiva, whether direct or indirect, will not be tolerated by the fans in India.

Moreover, OMG 2 will also face competition from other big releases on the same date, such as Sunny Deol’s Gadar 2 and Rajinikanth’s Jailer. Both these films are sequels to popular films and have a loyal fan base. It remains to be seen how OMG 2 will fare at the box office and whether it will revive Akshay Kumar’s fortunes or not

Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar has also reduced his fee for OMG 2 after a rough patch at the box office, according to some sources. The actor has allegedly cut down his fees from Rs 120 crore to Rs 80 crore for the film, as he does not want to burden the producers with his high remuneration. He has also agreed to share profits with them if the film does well.

Akshay Kumar is known for his professionalism and dedication towards his work. He has always experimented with different roles and genres and has given some memorable performances. He has also been honoured with several awards and accolades, including the Padma Shri, National Film Award and Filmfare Award. He is also one of the highest-paid actors in the world, according to Forbes magazine.

Let us now wait and watch to see if Akshay Kumar will make a comeback with a bang with OMG 2.

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