The Filmfare Awards 2017 nominations list was revealed recently, much to the excitement of waiting Bollywood fans. The state of entertainment awards in India is not hidden from anyone, with a big question mark on its credibility, including the Filmfare Awards. But the Filmfare trophy is still considered the most coveted. So when the full nominations list of the 62nd Filmfare Awards 2017 was announced, with actor Akshay Kumar’s name conspicuously missing, it evoked a massive reaction from his fans! Akshay Kumar fans felt cheated after their favourite star missed out on being nominated for his two films of 2016, Rustom and Airlift. In the latest edition of Filmfare Awards, Bollywood’s much loved Khan trio – Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan – will be battling for the Best Actor award for the first time in 19 years! This is making Akki fans more angry, but let’s face it Akshay Kumar fans, your favourite actor does not deserve the Best Actor 2017 Filmfare Award nomination!
Akshay Kumar had three releases in 2016 – Rustom, Airlift and Housefull 3. Leaving the comic caper, the Sajid-Farhad directed Housefull 3, the two movies were serious films inspired by major true events from Indian history. Akshay Kumar’s first release of the year was Airlift in the month of January 2016. A war thriller based on the evacuation of Indians based in Kuwait during the Invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, Airlift created box office opening records. The 49-year-old actor essayed the role of a fictional character, a braveheart Indian businessman Ranjit Katyal, who aids in carrying out the impossible task of saving Indians.
Coming to the second Akshay Kumar film Rustom, which also failed to make to Filmfare Awards 2017 nominations list. Another movie of Khiladi Kumar based on a real incident, Rustom was a crime thriller and courtroom drama. The film was inspired by the life of Naval Officer KM Nanavati who murdered businessman Prem Ahuja, the alleged lover of Nanavati’s English wife Sylvia Nanavati. Akshay Kumar was lauded for his performance in the role of a patriotic officer, and the movie also did exceptionally well at the box office.
But if you are thinking why Akshay Kumar – despite giving two blockbusters in 2016 – did not make it to the Filmfare 2017 Best Actor nominations, here are four reasons for it that may soothe the nerves of the outraged Akshay Kumar fans!
1. Akshay Kumar repeats himself to death; the man lacks versatility big time!
Let’s take a look at recent films of Akshay Kumar – Airlift and Rustom in 2016, Baby in 2015, Holiday in 2014. The plots these hit movies might be different, but Akshay’s act remains same – a brave and patriot Indian who parrots significant deshbhakti dialogues in the same manner. Bollywood’s hunk is repeating himself and most his famous roles – Rustom Pavri, Ranjit Katyal, Viraat Bakshi and Ajay seem to come out from one mould of acting.
2. Having many movie releases is no guarantee to getting an award!
Akshay Kumar will have one film releasing every quarter of the year. While there is no denial that he is the most bankable actor of Bollywood, Akshay Kumar has lost out on the exclusivity factor. The audience waits patiently for other stars’ movies and their character in it, but with Akshay Kumar, it is not about quality but about quantity.
3. What about experimentation?
Again, Akshay Kumar’s recent characters have all been the same. The star does not believe in undergoing massive changes for a role, not even physically. The maximum Akshay would have changed his look for a film was when he grew a beard for Gabbar or put a vermillion tika on his forehead for his lawyer act in Jolly LLB 2 (yet to release). His role in 2.0 as an antagonist opposite Rajinikanth looks refreshing, though, and a much-needed and welcome change.
4. Take a look at the competition, Akshay Kumar fans!!
Shah Rukh Khan played a superstar as well as an obsessed young fan who is out to seek revenge on his idol in the Maneesh Sharma-directed FAN. Shah Rukh Khan made us believe that they were two different characters – not a hint of his personality jeopardising the roles! The 51-year-old underwent lengthy make-up sessions and used painful prosthetic makeup to let the character come alive on screen.
Salman Khan, the second Khan, nominated in the Best Actor category for his film Sultan. The 51-year-old played the role of a lovelorn aged wrestler who makes it big in professional boxing and MMA. Salman’s transformation from a young wrestling sensation to an overweight under-confident individual and return in the ring as a middle-aged boxer was just phenomenal to see on the screen.
The third Khan who makes it to the Filmfare Awards 2017 nominations list is Aamir Khan. He is popularly called Mr Perfectionist, and Aamir proved just why he has earned the coveted tag. In the sports biopic Dangal, his role of retired Indian wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat raising his daughters Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari to become world champions is simply extraordinary. He hit all the right chords with the film.
Among the other nominees in the Best Actor Filmfare Awards 2017 list are megastar Amitabh Bachchan for the path-breaking film Pink, Ranbir Kapoor as a heart-broken singer from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Shahid Kapoor as a drug addict rockstar from Udta Punjab and Sushant Singh Rajput who played former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in MS Dhoni: The Untold Story. So, Akshay Kumar fans, please tell us where Akshay Kumar fit in this highly qualified nominations list of Filmfare Awards 2017? Kindly accept the mediocrity shown by your favourite star and stop the outrage!