Remakes, Corporate Scams & Credibility Crisis: Is Akshay Kumar the Only Target?

In a post-pandemic Bollywood landscape riddled with box office controversies and industry-wide skepticism, a question that refuses to die down is: “Is Akshay Kumar the only victim of remake fatigue and corporate manipulation?” The conversation around remake culture, inflated collections, and corporate meddling has gained traction, especially after films like Sitare Zameen Par (starring Aamir Khan) also came under the scanner.

It’s no longer just fan speculation. Critics, fans, and even a few industry insiders have started whispering about a deep-rooted structure that punishes certain actors while turning a blind eye to others. And in this murky game, Akshay Kumar often finds himself in the line of fire.

Unspoken Realities: Media, Silence, and Survival

Daraasal, post-pandemic Bollywood ek aise jaal mein phans chuka hai jahan sab kuch unke films ke against hi jaa raha hai. It’s not that films aren’t working — some are — but the ecosystem is so unpredictable and manipulated that it’s hard to believe anything at face value. The very journalists who once prided themselves on integrity now choose silence over truth, not because they lack the facts, but because of survival.

As one reputed journalist was asked why he doesn’t expose the so-called “box office scam,” he bluntly replied, “Court ke chakkar kaun lagayega? Kaun pay karega?” type replay, this one sentence reflects the rot — when even credible voices step back due to financial and legal fears, what can the audience do?

Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan Precedent: Where It All Began?

Many believe the real turning point came in 2023 with Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan. Shah Rukh, who had faced a series of box office duds before this, suddenly bounced back with a film that opened to 50+ crore and ended with a lifetime collection of over 500 crore — nothing short of a miracle.

While fans celebrated the comeback, others whispered about manufactured success. Could it really be that Pathaan marked the beginning of box office inflation? And if yes, then who would dare to question one of the biggest stars in the country?

The answer is — not the media. Not even the most honest journalists. Because, as mentioned, truth here has a price — and no one is willing to pay it.

The Feeding Phenomenon: Self-Filled Seats & Inflated Numbers

Since Pathaan, the trend continued. Jawan, Gadar 2, Animal — all crossed the 500 crore mark in the same year. Which all felt like normal, and if any one journalist knows about how much feeding happened manually or selfly by producers, it is almost impossible to prove anything because all the movies did well at the box office genuinely… It is like 10 mein se 3 4 seat khud se fill up karna…a journalist can know about feeding but can’t prove

One reputed journalist has now started placing an asterisk (*) on reported box office collections — a silent protest, a signal to viewers that everything may not be as organic as it appears.

Even Sitare Zameen Par received this mark — and rightly so. As its numbers rise, questions are being asked: how much of it is real, and how much is corporate-crafted?

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Why Only Target Akshay Kumar?

In this circus of figures and falsehoods, Akshay Kumar seems to be the only constant punching bag. Whether it’s Sky Force, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, or any of his other releases, the spotlight is always on him — mostly for the wrong reasons.

But jab aap Sky Force ke liye itna bawal macha rahe ho toh Sitare Zameen Par bhi uss list mein shaamil hai. Why no outrage there? If you’re going to label Drishyam 2 or Shaitaan as remakes, why not tag Sitare Zameen Par the same? It is a remake too, after all.

Clearly, there’s selective outrage — and fans have every right to question it.

Journalists Under the Scanner

It’s impossible to ignore how big-name journalists like Himesh Mankad and Komal Nahta behave on social media for recent release ‘Sitare Zameen Par’. Unusually active in replying to random comments, they pick and choose what to amplify and what to ignore.

Itna toh ho sakta hai ki yeh unke favourite actor ki film ho — ya shayad, producers feeding in kind or cash. Because if producers can pump money into inflated collections, buying influence over media narratives isn’t out of question either.

Final Thoughts: When Fans Start Questioning the Gatekeepers

Yes, Kesari Chapter 2 or Jaat, Raid2 and Housefull5 are being recognized for genuine box office performance this year. But the moment a film backed by powerful names — corporate or creative — gets a soft pass despite questionable merit, something breaks.

Star fandom has evolved. Audiences are smarter. Social media gives them a voice — and when they rise, they demand consistency.

The bottom line is this: The credibility of box office numbers has taken a severe hit. The credibility of film journalism is even worse. Remakes are not the real enemy — hypocrisy is. If one actor is targeted, others must be equally accountable.

And for that to happen, the media must choose transparency over convenience. Until then, expect more asterisks, more silent protests, and a lot more noise from fans who are finally done with the selective narrative.