Rajiv Rai, who gave us multiple hits like Mohra, Gupt, and Tridev, is all set to make a comeback with his directorial Zora, scheduled to release on August 8, 2025. Meanwhile, the filmmaker spoke in detail about his older films in a recent interview. This is where he revealed some shocking details about Akshay Kumar, with whom he had worked on a couple of projects.
Initially, Rajiv praised the actor, calling him disciplined and punctual on set. However, the tone shifted as he added that Akshay was a bit stubborn when it came to financial matters. In Rajiv’s own words, “If I had to pay ₹2 lakhs at that time, I ended up giving ₹5 lakhs,” noting that he didn’t want trouble over a small amount.
The director even suggested that it might be Akshay Kumar’s nature that made him greedy for money. He remarked, “Good for him,” which some are interpreting as an indirect jibe. According to Rajiv Rai, Akshay was not even a sellable actor during the days of Mohra, yet he still paid him ₹4–5 lakhs.
In contrast, Rajiv had glowing words for Suniel Shetty, calling him humble, genuine, and a true friend who actually cares about people. With these contrasting statements, he clearly drew a line between the two actors’ attitudes and personalities.
As of now, Akshay Kumar has not responded to Rajiv Rai’s comments. Whether he will address the claims remains to be seen, but the revelation has already stirred up discussions in the film industry.
