2025 gave us two Akshay Kumar sequels- Housefull 5 and Kesari 2.
Both films received a lukewarm response from audiences. Kesari 2 collected ₹111.48 crore in India, and Housefull 5, despite its massive star cast and high expectations, earned ₹183.30 crore during its 5-week run.
Despite Kesari 2 being one of the better films of the year, actually driven by content rather than just a big cast, it still failed to dominate the box office as expected.
Housefull 5, on the other hand, boasted a massive ensemble, was produced by one of the biggest names in the industry, and yet failed to sweep audiences off their feet as promised.
This has led many to question Akshay Kumar’s current ability to draw crowds to theatres.
Fans on social media have also drawn comparisons with Kartik Aaryan, who in the past few years has stepped into Akshay’s shoes with the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise.
Kartik played the lead in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and 3, and both films became box office blockbusters.
Ironically, despite Kartik’s performance often being described as a watered-down imitation of Akshay’s original character, the films still managed to succeed, something Akshay’s recent projects haven’t achieved.
This raises the question- is today’s audience choosing Kartik Aaryan over Akshay Kumar?
If so, Akshay may be facing serious competition. He either needs to step up and deliver solid performances to reclaim his spot in the industry or risk being overtaken by newer faces.
Akshay is a seasoned actor with years of experience. All he needs is to put in genuine effort, and he still has the potential to deliver something far better than what we’ve seen from him recently. But will he? Only time will tell.
