Does Akshay Kumar Jealous of SRK Winning Many Awards?

During a recent interview with journalist Rajdeep Sardesai at the India Today Conclave 2026, Akshay Kumar spoke about the challenges faced by comedy actors in Hindi cinema. He explained that he now values rewards from audiences more than industry awards.

Rajdeep Sardesai asked whether Bollywood has been unfair to the comedy genre. The journalist pointed out that comedy films have become popular largely because of actors like Akshay Kumar who delivered several successful films over the last two decades.

Responding to the question, Akshay Kumar shared an interesting comparison. He said that when actors deliver romantic films they often receive awards for acting, but when someone succeeds with comedy the recognition usually comes under a separate category.

The actor described comedy as one of the most difficult genres to perform. According to him it is unfortunate that the industry has not always treated comedy as a mainstream acting craft.

Rajdeep Sardesai then asked whether Akshay Kumar felt he was denied the recognition he deserved despite delivering many comedy hits. The question also mentioned whether such stereotyping affected the kind of recognition received by stars like Shah Rukh Khan.

Akshay Kumar replied that he had stopped thinking about awards long ago. He said rewards are more meaningful than trophies. The actor added that he considers himself a commercial performer who values audience appreciation the most.

He also explained that the biggest reward for him is when families enjoy his films. According to Akshay Kumar it makes him happy when parents say their children love watching his comedy movies.

A clip from this interview quickly went viral on social media. Many users started discussing whether Akshay Kumar was overlooked in comparison to Shah Rukh Khan when it comes to awards and recognition.

Several commentators defended Shah Rukh Khan by highlighting his diverse filmography. They mentioned films such as Baazigar, Swades, Devdas, Chak De India, My Name Is Khan and Jawaan as examples of impactful cinema.

Some social media users criticised Akshay Kumar and claimed he appeared insecure about the issue. Others pointed out that his recent films have not delivered major success at the box office.

For example, the 2025 franchise film Housefull 5 reportedly underperformed commercially. Jolly LLB 3 also delivered only an average result according to trade discussions.

Despite recent struggles, Akshay Kumar remains one of the most recognised comedy stars in Bollywood. His filmography includes popular titles such as Garam Masala, Bhagam Bhag, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Tees Maar Khan, De Dana Dan, Welcome, Hera Pheri and Khatta Meetha.

While comparisons between Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan continue online, industry observers say both actors have followed different career paths. Each has built a distinct identity in the Hindi film industry.

Looking ahead, Akshay Kumar is working on several upcoming projects. His current lineup reportedly includes Bhoot Bangla, Welcome 3, OMG 3, Golmaal 5 and Bhagam Bhag 2 among others.