Akshay Kumar's box office struggles: Can Sky Force help him revive his reign?

Akshay Kumar, once a box office titan, has been facing a string of recent disappointments. Will Sky Force help him reclaim his star status? Let's find out.

In Short

• Akshay Kumar has been facing a string of disappointments
• His last film, Khel Khel Mein, was also a box-office failure
• He will be next seen in Sky Force, alongside Veer Pahariya

Akshay Kumar has been one of the most beloved and sought-after actors in Bollywood. His films are often our go-to choices on tough days. Had a fight with your parents? An argument with your boss? Just open your laptop and start playing Welcome. Many of Akshay's films, such as Hera Pheri, Bhagam Bhag, Welcome, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, and others, serve as some of the best mood-lifters to date.

However, the same cannot be said for most of Akshay's recent films. It's not that they are unwatchable, but they often feel like one-time watches. For instance, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan suffered from poor dialogue writing, making it difficult to enjoy even as a one-time watch. Many other films of Akshay have suffered a similar fate.

On being asked about what is going wrong for Akshay, trade analyst Taran Adarsh said, "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan was let down in terms of content -- there’s no denying that."

Some of the reasons for this breakdown could be the change in the dynamics of the Indian film, such as their demands for a fresh subject, the rise of new faces, and various genres. The recent films of Akshay Kumar, while targetting a niche audience, somehow failed to catch the big bus. The emergence of various streaming platforms has also changed the eagle-eyed audience in such a way that they prefer on-demand content to theatrical releases.

"The problem here is, you know, there was a bit of overexposure -- not just in movies but also in ads and public appearances. What happens is that when you see several ads running at the same time and five or six movies releasing in a year, the exposure takes precedence. This is when the curiosity and mystery of seeing a big star on the screen start to fade," said Taran.

Moreover, the competition from younger actors in Bollywood has also increased quite a lot. Akshay Kumar, despite his experience, and being in the industry for almost decades, probably needs to rethink and relook to communicate with the new-age audiences.

Maybe he needs to involve himself with new directors, dabbling into genres he hasn't in the past, and taking up more challenging roles that display his versatility as an actor. One might say he has attempted to do all that. But this, perhaps, is not the best way to approach this issue. He does not lack effort. Oh no, he definitely is giving his best. It may as well be the sheer effort causing him to struggle and find the success he was so used to at some point in time.

Taran further mentioned, "Last year, Akshay did 4-5 films or had 4-5 releases where all the films belonged to the same genre and were no different from each other. Sarfira was a very towering performance, as was Khel Khel Mein, which was very well done. I'm not denying that. But when a movie doesn't work, it just doesn't work."

In the past few years, Akshay has made a lot of social films. Most movies that were a box office success for him were either comedy or action roles. Yes, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan was an action film, but the film had a hopeless script to begin with. The Indian film audience is evolving, demanding more nuanced stories, fresh perspectives, and performances that push boundaries. Akshay Kumar's recent films may not be adequately catering to these evolving tastes.

Despite all his setbacks, Akshay Kumar has remained a prominent figure in Bollywood. He has a loyal fanbase and a long-standing career filled with successful films. He will next be seen in Sky Force, which is releasing on the occasion of Republic Day, January 26. Bollywood does like a good patriotic film and there are chances that this could redeem Akshay's filmography.

On being asked about Sky Force, Taran said, "It's a very well-made film, and I think my first reaction yesterday when I watched it was that Akshay has delivered a very fine performance—a truly towering one. It's a word-of-mouth kind of film.

This recent phase of box office struggles may be a temporary blip for the actor, who has previously demonstrated his resilience in overcoming challenges. It remains to be seen how Akshay Kumar will navigate this current phase and whether he will be able to regain his box office dominance.

Sky Force lands in theatres on January 24.