Akshay Kumar has had a slew of releases in the past year alone. The actor is now gearing up for the release of his period drama Samrat Prithviraj, which stars former Miss World Manushi Chhillar, Sanjay Dutt and Sonu Sood. Directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, the film is based on medieval poet Chand Bardai’s epic poem Prithviraj Raso. While Akshay will play Prithviraj Chauhan, Manushi Chillar will be seen as his wife Sanyogita. Manav Vij plays Muhammad of Ghori. The trailers emphasise Prithviraj’s ‘Hindu dharma’, which is to respect and protect everyone who asks for his help.
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In an earlier interview, director Chandraprakash Dwivedi, who has helmed Chanakya, Mohalla Assi and Pinjar, spoke about how he has been living with the story for almost two decades. “Samrat Prithviraj is my dream project. It’s a script that I have nurtured for a long, long time because of the extensive research work that was needed before I even attempted to make a film on this mighty and legendary king. To be precise, Prithviraj’s final research took about six months for me to be fully satisfied that every single fact was checked multiple times,” Dwivedi said.
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Akshay Kumar, meanwhile, referred to Samrat Prithviraj as a synergy of “history, patriotism, the portrayal of the values that we should live by, and also tells a story of love that is rare to find”. The actor said he was awed by Prithviraj Chauhan’s story. “The more I read about him, the more I was awed by how he lived and breathed every single second of his glorious life for his country and his values,” he said.
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Before you watch Samrat Prithviraj, watch the romantic song from the film.
In a social media post, Akshay Kumar on Thursday requested fans to not share any spoilers.
In a brief speech after watching Akshay Kumar-starrer ‘Samrat Prithviraj’ at a special screening in the national capital on Wednesday night, home minister Amit Shah said after overcoming numerous adversities, India’s pride, culture and innate faith is now on course to be where it was long back when it showed the way to the world. READ HERE
A fan of Akshay Kumar shared a poster stating that he declared a 'special holiday' today in respect for the release of Samrat Prithviraj.
Indian Express critic Shubhra Gupta in her review wrote, "As befits its simplistic, shorn-of-nuance tone, this Akshay Kumar-Manushi Chhillar film lurches between dialogue-baazi and blandness, and stays completely faithful to its stated intent." READ FULL REVIEW HERE
Here's what content creator Ashish Chanchlani has to say about Samrat Prithviraj.
While Akshay Kumar's fans cannot stop heaping words of praise on the star, a few cinema lovers had their share of criticism for the film. A Twitter user wrote, "Film manifests the valor & sacrifice of King Prithviraj but the execution is ATROCIOUS. Screenplay is scattered,war sequences are substandard,crucial elevation scenes are missing & performances are lackluster. LOST OPPORTUNITY."
Another Akshay Kumar fan wrote, "#SamratPrithviraj will be crashed very badly after weekend. There are no elements for repeat value. Strictly average film for fans. Waste of money for neutral audiences."
Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty took to social media to wish the team of Samrat Prithviraj. He wrote, "Tears in the eyes & admiration in the heart at stories of our historical heroes always. Salut. A great Indian story arrives, telling us our great history. Best of luck @akshaykumar @duttsanjay @SonuSood @ManushiChhillar for #SamratPrithviraj #DrChandraprakashDwivedi @yrf."
As her debut film Samrat Prithviraj released in theatres, actor Manushi Chiller visited Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai today.
Akshay Kumar thanked Ajay Devgn and wrote, "A lot of time and effort has gone into making this film a grand spectacle. Thank you so much for your wishes brother ??"
Ajay Devgn praised Akshay Kumar's film on social media.
YRF requested the fans to not record videos in the theatre, and watch the film in cinema halls.
Twitter user @heartbroker288 calls Samrat Prithviraj a "masterpiece". "Thanks ?? for bringing our legend #SamratPrithviraj sir Masterpiece movie ??," read the tweet.
Twitter user @ashishprabhu22 shared, "Watched #SamratPrithviraj And wow just wow !The grandeur,the valour and the visual experience that it is! Congratulations and goood luck to the entire team?? @akshaykumar what a strong performance ??, @ManushiChhillar you were soo good !?? @yrf #ChandraprakashDwivedi sir ????"
Trade analyst Akshaye Rathi shared on Twitter, "Best wishes to @yrf #DrChandraprakashDwivedi @akshaykumar @ManushiChhillar @duttsanjay @SonuSood @rohan_m01 & the entire team of #SamratPrithviraj. May the film have a solid impact on the hearts & minds of people…and ofcourse, at the box office! Important tale that must be told!"
Twitter user @CHENNAIAKKIANS wrote, "#SamratPrithviraj has super trending here in Singapore for today. I am currently in SG fr biz work and will leave for Chennai in 5 hours. Just checked out the advances here & it’s amazing considering majority of Indians here r frm Chennai."
Trade analyst Girish Johar had earlier shared on Twitter, "In a development, Govt of Kuwait & Oman have banned #SamratPrithviraj ... they will not be released there! @akshaykumar @SonuSood @duttsanjay @ManushiChhillar @yrf #DrChandraprakashDwivedi."
Anupam Kher sent his wishes to the team of Samrat Prithviraj. He tweeted, 'Dearest @akshaykumar! Good luck for the release of your ambitious project #SamratPrithviraj. Hearing wonderful things about the grandeur of the magnum opus and your performance in it. Looking forward to watching it soon. Jai Ho!'
Ahead of Samrat Prithviraj's release, Akshay Kumar answered 30 fun questions.
A look at Akshay Kumar's 30 years in the Hindi film industry gives the most obvious example of casual sexism in Bollywood. With each year, Akshay gets older and the female co-stars younger. He is 29 years older than his Samrat Prithviraj co-star Manushi Chillar.
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Filmmaker Aanand L Rai praised the film in his Instagram stories.
Jackky Bhagnani tweeted, "#SamratPrithviraj is a must watch and a story that must be told @akshaykumar sir no one else could have brought to life the legend of #SamratPrithviraj chauhan @ManushiChhillar you were fantastic. #ChandraprakashDwivedi sir you are a storyteller par excellence.All the best team."
The BJP has put its weight behind several films in the recent past, endorsing them either through tax exemptions or vocal support on social media. Read how tax exemptions for Samrat Prithviraj by two BJP-ruled states are in line with other films to get BJP endorsement.
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Rakul Preet Singh tweeted, "Watched #SamratPrithviraj And wow just wow !The grandeur,the valour and the visual experience that it is! Congratulations and goood luck to the entire team. @akshaykumar what a strong performance, @ManushiChhillar you were soo good ! @yrf #ChandraprakashDwivedi sir."
Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said the film is even better if seen with a ticket.
Trade analyst Manobala Vijayabalan says Prithviraj will get a 'huge' opening
At the trailer launch of his film, Akshay Kumar got emotional as he remembered his mother who passed away last year. "“I wish my mother… If she was here, she would have been so proud," he said.
The image of Prithviraj as a fearless and skilled warrior that is now etched in the folk imagination can be traced back to his depiction in ‘Prithviraj Raso’, a poem in Brajbhasha attributed to Chand Bardai, which is thought to have been composed in the 16th century. Read full story here
Akshay Kumar, 54, will be seen opposite 25-year-old Manushi Chhillar in Prithviraj. As the actor featured on the latest episode of The Kapil Sharma Show where he got playfully trolled by the comedian. Read full story here
“Coming generations should also take inspiration from him, so we have decided that this film will be tax free in Uttarakhand,” the CM was quoted as saying.
June 3 will witness a massive clash, as Akshay Kumar's Prithviraj, Adivi Sesh's Major and Vikram, starring Fahad Faasil, Kamal Haasan and Vijay Sethupathi will release all in the same day. The trade pundits predict a whopping Rs 25 crore opening for Vikram in Tamil Nadu alone. Akshay Kumar's historical drama is likely to have an uphill struggle.
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Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the film will be tax free so that more people can watch it and know about our 'motherland'. "The film on the life of great warrior Samrat Prithviraj in which Akshay Kumar is in the lead role is declared tax free in Madhya Pradesh so that maximum number of youths see the movie and learn about him and a feeling of love inculcate in them towards their motherland,” he tweeted in Hindi.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that Samrat Prithviraj will be tax-free in Uttar Pradesh.
Ahead of the release, Akshay Kumar shared a note asking fans to avoid sharing any spoilers. He added that several aspects of the film are designed to be awe-inspiring. “The entire team of Samrat Prithviraj, a film that gloriously celebrates the life of one of India’s bravest king’s Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan has taken four years to create a visual spectacle that we are all extremely proud of. Since it’s an authentic historical, there are many facets of Samrat’s life that are lesser known to the people of our country, especially the youth. Thus, this is our sincere request to everyone watching the film from tomorrow, to not give out spoilers that reveal several aspects of our film that are designed to be awe-inspiring. We hope to entertain you thoroughly only on the big screen from tomorrow! Thank you,” read Akshay’s note.