Why Akshay becoming a 'hero' rescuing Padmaavat should be taken with a pinch of salt

While most quarters have good things to say about Akshay’s decision to push Pad Man’s release, sources claim that it was marked by a little self-interest

The Hindi film industry, always portrayed as a harsh and mean world, where each person looks out only for one’s own interest, witnessed a rare instance of solidarity on Friday. Akshay Kumar, whose biographical film Pad Man was to release at the same time as Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s controversial Padmaavat, deferred the release of his film at the latter’s request. Much to the Padmaavat team’s relief, the film is all set for a solo release on the most lucrative weekend of our Republic Day.

While Bhansali’s magnum opus has seen the lowest of lows what with the sets being vandalised, the lead actors being threatened and the release being postponed several times, the industry has backed Bhansali right from the start. And this is the most tangible example of Bollywood’s solidarity yet.

In fact, Akshay’s entire team is with him on this decision. Says his co-producer Prerna Arora of Kriarj Films, “Just a week before our film’s release, without any prior intimation, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, came to Akshay sir requesting that we postpone Pad Man. It was a very unusual request considering we were just days away from release. But Akshay agreed immediately.”

Prerna further states that this event sets a precedent for other actors, directors and producers who pit their films against each other in a bid to come out on top. “They should learn from this experience. By moving ahead by two weeks at the last minute, Akshay has shown there can be solidarity in the film fraternity,” she says.

Prerna’s partner, Arjun N. Kapoor also agrees that this unity is not just welcome but also needed in the industry.

The other side of the coin
Despite the team’s profuse admiration for Akshay, the move isn’t as magnanimous as it may seem. While the entire industry is busy commending the actor-producer’s largesse, the generous gesture was not without a pinch of self-interest.

A source in the know informs us, “It was a marvellous marketing manoeuvre. In one stroke, Akshay made himself out to be the hero rescuing Padmaavat from its crisis. But look closer. He actually did his own film a favour. His entire marketing team advised him to pull out of the January 25 release slot after Padmaavat came into the picture. With Padmaavat around, Pad Man would have lost at least 45 percent of its intended viewership. Also, with all the threats of violence hovering over Padmaavat, the multiplex theatres screening both Padmaavat and Pad Man would have witnessed a reduction in visitors. Families wary of unrest would have stayed away from both.”

Furthermore, it is believed Bhansali did not want to be the one to approach Akshay. He’d wanted to send a Viacom 18 representative to do the job. However, the team felt that the request would sound more genuine if it came from the director himself.

Whatever their motivations though, it seems that both the much-awaited films have got their share of positive response and limelight from their fans, who are geared up for a couple of power-packed weeks of cinema-going.

— With inputs from Dyuti Basu and Subhash K. Jha