Ahead of the release of his film Kesari 2, actor Akshay Kumar distanced himself from a growing political controversy surrounding the film's historical subject. Set against the backdrop of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the legal drama sees Akshay portraying Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair, a prominent lawyer and freedom fighter who challenged the British establishment in the aftermath of the massacre.
At a press conference on Friday, Akshay responded to questions about recent political remarks by BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who criticized the Congress party for allegedly sidelining leaders like Sankaran Nair in its historical narrative. Akshay firmly refused to be drawn into the political discourse, saying:
“I am not a historian. I am just an actor. What somebody is saying, what any politician is saying — I am not going to get into that. I just made this film, and I just want people to realise what happened.”
The controversy was triggered when Chandrasekhar posted on social media, accusing the Congress of erasing figures like Sankaran Nair, Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to serve the “Congress dynasty.” He particularly emphasized Nair’s role in legally challenging Michael O’Dwyer, the then-Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, who oversaw the events that led to the massacre in Amritsar in 1919.
Chandrasekhar’s post read:
“Chettur Sankaran Nair was a prominent Indian lawyer, statesman, and former president of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1897 — but has been erased out of Cong history. He is remembered even today for his legal battles — like his case against Michael O’Dwyer who perpetrated the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.”
Kumar, however, remained focused on the cinematic aspect of the film, underscoring that Kesari 2 aims to spotlight a largely overlooked chapter of India’s colonial past, not stir up partisan debates. The film features Ananya Panday in a key role and is slated for theatrical release on April 18.
With its theme rooted in legal defiance and colonial injustice, Kesari 2 is expected to blend history and drama, even as it arrives at a time of heightened political rhetoric ahead of general elections.
