Akshay Kumar Addresses Hugging Shivling Controversy, Says “Meri Bhakti Ko Koi Galat Samjhe…”

February 27, 2025: Bollywood star Akshay Kumar recently addressed the controversy surrounding his devotional song “Mahakal Chalo,” released ahead of Mahashivratri. The song, which he unveiled in collaboration with Palash Sen, faced objections from a priest association over certain visuals.

During a press conference for his upcoming film Kannappa, Akshay defended his devotional song and clarified his stance. “Since childhood, my parents taught me that Bhagwan hamare maata pita hai. (God is our parents). So, if you hug your parents, what is wrong with that? Is there anything wrong with it?” he asked. “Absolutely not. Meri agar shakti wahan se aati hai, toh meri bhakti ko agar koi galat samjhe, usmein mera koi kasoor nahi. (If my strength comes from there, then if someone misunderstands my devotion, it is not my fault),” he added.

Akshay’s comments were aimed at addressing misunderstandings regarding his devotion and emphasizing his deep respect for God.

On the acting front, Akshay is gearing up for his debut in Telugu cinema with the film Kannappa, where he plays Lord Shiva. Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, the film is slated for release on April 25, 2025. Speaking about his experience working with Akshay, producer and actor Vishnu Manchu expressed his gratitude, saying, “I didn’t have a personal connection with Akshay Kumar. But I am grateful to have met him through this film. He’s a wonderful human being. I am a junior to him as an actor, and I have a lot to learn from him.”

Vishnu also shared that getting Akshay on board was not an easy task, revealing that Akshay had initially rejected the role twice. “I am grateful to all of them, including Mr. Akshay Kumar… It wasn’t easy getting him on board. He rejected the role twice,” said Vishnu.

Akshay responded by explaining the reason for turning down the role. “As he mentioned, I turned down the part twice. Now, let me explain why. I didn’t know Vishnu ji. I know his father (Mohan Babu) for certain. To suddenly phone ‘aaya mujhe pata nahi chala aur phone bhi kisi aur ko kiya tha’ and it came through Sudha ma’am, so ‘pata nahi chala’. There are times when actors or their managers get hoax calls (and hence I turned the offer down).”

With his upcoming role as Lord Shiva in Kannappa, Akshay is stepping into new territory, and fans are excited to see him take on this challenging and spiritual role.