In Indian cinema, star power is the biggest draw. Kannappa, released on June 27, 2025, is a perfect example, with Vishnu Manchu in the lead and cameos by Prabhas as Rudra and Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva.
The hungama created by fans in some theatres has sparked a debate on social media. Some videos are circulating online where fans are erupting with whistles and claps during a scene featuring Akshay Kumar.
Akshay’s fans are claiming that the cheers are purely because of his stardom. However, the truth is that the scene actually marks the entry of Prabhas, and Akshay is just a part of it. Akshay’s individual entry happens earlier in the film, and at that point, no one cheered.
Akshay’s fans are now trying to steal Prabhas’s limelight. Prabhas’s massive popularity in the South seems to have brought fans specifically for his cameo, overshadowing Akshay’s debut as Lord Shiva.
Both Prabhas and Akshay Kumar did what was required of them in their brief roles.
So, the excitement in the theatres was clearly due to Prabhas’s stardom, and Akshay Kumar’s fans are trying to take credit for their idol—despite knowing that the crowd’s energy was very clearly in Prabhas’s favor.
