Veteran actress-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan is well-known for her candid and straightforward nature, often making headlines for her unfiltered opinions. Recently, during the India TV Conclave, she once again grabbed attention with her critical remarks about Akshay Kumar’s 2017 film Toilet: Ek Prem Katha.
Speaking at the event, Jaya expressed her “reservations” about the film, questioning the unusual title and its appeal to audiences. She openly asked the attendees if they would watch a film with such a name, receiving a lukewarm response. “Is that really a name?” she scoffed, adding, “Among so many people, hardly four want to watch the film; it’s very sad. Yeh toh flop hai (It is a flop).”
At a recent promotional event for his upcoming film Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh, Akshay Kumar was asked to respond to Jaya Bachchan’s comments. Maintaining a respectful tone, the actor said, “Agar unhone kaha hai to phir sahi hoga, mujhe nahi pata. Agar Toilet: Ek Prem Katha banake maine koi galat kaam kiya hai, to phir agar woh keh rahi hai to sahi hoga.” (If she said it, then it must be right. If making Toilet: Ek Prem Katha was a mistake, and she feels that way, then she must be right.)
For context, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, co-starring Bhumi Pednekar, was a socially driven film aimed at promoting hygiene and sanitation awareness in rural India, a topic that earned it widespread acclaim despite its unconventional title.
Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar is gearing up for the release of Kesari Chapter 2, directed by Karan Singh Tyagi. The film, adapted from Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat’s book The Case That Shook The Empire, sheds light on the events surrounding the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Produced by a powerhouse team including Hiroo Yash Johar, Aruna Bhatia, Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Amritpal Singh Bindra, and Anand Tiwari, the film promises a gripping historical narrative.
Kesari Chapter 2 is all set to hit theaters on April 18, 2025 — mark your calendars!
