📌 Key Points
- Priyadarshan compares Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan’s screen presence.
- Director believes Akshay Kumar is more relatable as a common man.
- Shah Rukh Khan’s body language is described as urban and polished.
- Priyadarshan’s upcoming film ‘Bhooth Bangla’ stars Akshay Kumar and Tabu.
Director Priyadarshan weighs in on the contrasting screen personas of Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar. He suggests Akshay embodies the ‘common man’ more convincingly, citing SRK’s urban demeanor as a limiting factor for village roles.
Priyadarshan’s Take on Bollywood’s Leading Men
Filmmaker Priyadarshan has shared his perspective on the contrasting screen personas of Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan , explaining why he believes Akshay is more convincing as an everyday man on screen. Speaking in an interview with Firstpost about his upcoming film Bhooth Bangla, the director reflected on differences in the actors’ body language and their relatability. Priyadarshan, who has collaborated with Akshay on several films, is set to reunite with him.
In contrast, Priyadarshan described Shah Rukh Khan’s screen presence as more urban and polished. Recalling their time working on Billu, he shared, “I remember I took SRK to a very remote village, a deep village in the South. So, he asked me, ‘How did you find this place?’ He told me something. I can never relate to a village because I always grew up in Delhi. Shah Rukh can never act as a villager, because his body language is very polished, very urban.”
Akshay Kumar as the Everyday Hero
Priyadarshan also spoke about his approach to storytelling, particularly in comedy, saying many of his films draw from everyday struggles. Referring to Hera Pheri, he said that what he calls the humour of life is the humour of poverty, as everybody is desperate for money.
SRK’s Urban Persona: A Limiting Factor?
Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar has multiple confirmed projects in the pipeline. He will next be seen in Bhooth Bangla, a horror-comedy directed by Priyadarshan, scheduled to release in April 2026. The film also stars Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Wamiqa Gabbi and Rajpal Yadav.
Priyadarshan’s insights offer a unique perspective on Bollywood’s leading men and their ability to portray relatable characters. His upcoming film with Akshay Kumar promises a blend of horror and comedy rooted in everyday struggles.
