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Akshay distances himself from political row over Kesari 2
Bollywood star Akshay Kumar has chosen to steer clear of a political row sparked ahead of the release of his upcoming historical legal drama Kesari 2, in which he portrays the eminent lawyer and pre-independence Indian National Congress president, Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair.
The controversy emerged following comments from BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who criticised the Congress party for allegedly neglecting the legacy of prominent freedom fighters such as Sankaran Nair, Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Dr B.R. Ambedkar.
In a lengthy social media post, Chandrasekhar accused the Congress of sidelining these figures to promote the interests of the “Congress dynasty”.
Addressing the media at a press conference on Friday, Akshay Kumar made it clear that he has no intention of engaging in political debates surrounding the film. “I am not a historian. I am just an actor,” Kumar said. “What somebody is saying, what any politician is saying — I am not going to get into that. I just made this film, and I just want people to realise what happened.”
Kesari 2 is set against the backdrop of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre and follows the legal battle fought by Chettur Sankaran Nair against British official Michael O’Dwyer, who was widely held responsible for the massacre.
Kumar explained that the film was created with careful attention to historical accounts and personal anecdotes. “We made it according to the book — whatever I understood, whatever stories I heard from my father — the film is an amalgamation of all those. Beyond that, who said what politically, I don't want to get into it,” he said.
Chandrasekhar’s post hailed Nair as a towering figure in India’s legal and political history, emphasising his bold stance against British colonialism. “Chettur Sankaran Nair was a prominent Indian lawyer, statesman, and former president of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1897 — but has been erased out of Congress history.
He is remembered even today for his legal battles — like his case against Michael O’Dwyer who perpetrated the Jallianwala Bagh massacre,” the BJP leader wrote.
Directed by Anurag Singh, Kesari 2 is set for theatrical release on 18 April and also features Ananya Panday in a significant role, reports UNB.
While political debates may continue, Akshay Kumar is focused solely on bringing to light a powerful story from India’s past. “This is a story that needs to be told — and remembered,” he added.