When audiences first saw Akshay Kumar as the legendary warrior king in Samrat Prithviraj, it wasn’t just the battles that grabbed attention. It was… the moustache. Yes, that controversial, much-debated, very noticeable fake moustache. Social media erupted, fans argued, critics questioned. And now, years later, Akshay is finally clearing the air in his own calm, slightly apologetic style.
Speaking candidly on a podcast shared on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube channel, the actor addressed the backlash and explained why the much-talked-about look wasn’t about laziness or lack of commitment but simply practicality.
The moustache that sparked a debate
When the historical drama released in 2022, viewers expected complete authenticity especially since Akshay was portraying the iconic ruler Prithviraj Chauhan. But instead of applause, many reactions focused on how artificial the moustache looked.
Some viewers even questioned whether the actor had put in enough effort for such an important historical role.
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The criticism spread quickly, with fans comparing his look to traditional depictions of the king and demanding more realism. For many, the moustache became symbolic of what they felt was a lack of detailing in the film’s visual authenticity.
The discussion refused to die down and remained one of the most talked-about aspects of the movie long after its release.
Akshay explains what really happened
Now, Akshay says there was a very practical reason behind the decision. He clarified that he does grow facial hair for roles and even cited a recent example. According to him, he spent around six weeks growing a beard and during that time, he didn’t take on any work.
However, the moustache required for ‘Samrat Prithviraj’ was extremely specific. The actor admitted that the exact style demanded by the character simply could not grow naturally on his face. That left the team with limited options and they chose a prosthetic moustache.
He acknowledged that the result didn’t work for everyone. In fact, he openly said that maybe it didn’t look good and that many people didn’t like it. But he also emphasised that acting sometimes involves compromises. Not every physical transformation can be achieved naturally, and in those cases, artificial additions become necessary.
He ended his explanation with a brief apology, saying that if audiences didn’t like the look, he was sorry.
About ‘Samrat Prithviraj’
Released on June 3, 2022, ‘Samrat Prithviraj’ was directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi and produced by Yash Raj Films. The movie explored the life and battles of Prithviraj Chauhan and aimed to bring the legendary warrior’s story to a wider audience.
Alongside Akshay Kumar, the film featured Manushi Chhillar, Sanjay Dutt and Sonu Sood in key roles. Despite its ambitious scale and historical theme, the moustache controversy remained one of the most widely discussed talking points.