Akshay Kumar has built a career on speed, physicality and the kind of action that looks dangerous because it often is. So when the actor says he wants to return to a “real” action film, the remark lands as more than nostalgia. It reads like a pointed critique of where stunt cinema is headed.
In a recent interview with PTI, Kumar voiced his frustration with the way action is increasingly designed through screens and software. For an actor who came up doing martial arts driven roles long before digital clean-up became standard, the difference, he suggested, is impossible to ignore.
Akshay Kumar Calls Out Overdependence On VFX And AI
“There is a huge difference in the way action films are being made today. Earlier, the action would be real, now, everything is done in VFX. It’s not fun as it feels fake. I want to make a film, which is real,” Kumar said.
He doubled down on that idea with a more specific description of what he misses. “For instance, if I’m jumping, then I’m jumping for real and not using VFX for it, or if I’m kicking, then I’m kicking for real, not like 15 people are helping me kick people. I want to make an action film without the use of VFX.”
Kumar also made it clear that his discomfort extends to the wider use of AI in filmmaking. “I’m saying this in the era of AI and people may think what they wish to, but I want to do an action film that is a real action film. The audience can feel how much effort is being put in, unlike the efforts taken with the help of AI or computer,” he said.
To explain the difference, he compared practical action to handmade art. “There’s a difference between real, hand-made and printed painting. The printed painting may look perfect, and the real painting may have some flaws. Now, it depends on you, what you want to see. I want to make a real painting.”
Franchise Space Still Excites The Actor
Even as he argues for grounded stunt work, Kumar is not stepping away from commercial entertainers. He also spoke about joining established franchises, including Stree and Golmaal. He made a brief appearance in Stree 2 in 2024, and Golmaal 5 was officially announced this month with Rohit Shetty, Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kemmu and Kumar in the cast.
Kumar said franchise films come to him because filmmakers believe he fits those worlds, adding that being part of a major series like Golmaal is a good thing.
Akshay Kumar’s Recent And Upcoming Work
Akshay Kumar’s recent run has been packed with theatrical releases. In 2024, he starred in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Sarfira and Khel Khel Mein. In January 2025, he was seen in Sky Force. He also had a cameo in Stree 2 and appeared in Singham Again in 2024. On the OTT side, his last major direct-to-digital release within the past four years was Cuttputlli, which premiered on Disney+ Hotstar in 2022.
Looking ahead, Kumar is attached to Bhooth Bangla, the Priyadarshan-directed horror comedy co-starring Paresh Rawal, Tabu and Wamiqa Gabbi, which is scheduled to release in theatres on April 10, 2026. He is also set to appear in Golmaal 5, which has now been officially announced for 2027, keeping him firmly in the middle of both nostalgia-driven franchises and mainstream theatrical cinema.
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