Akshay Kumar is trending on social media, perhaps not for reasons he would appreciate. The actor has found himself in the limelight, improbably, after the launch on Monday of India’s moon mission, Chandrayaan-2.
Last week saw the release of the trailer of Mission Mangal, the actor’s upcoming film about India’s 2013 mission to Mars.
Uncharacteristically, the Indian Space Research Organisation that undertook the moon mission tweeted its support for the Bollywood film.
As #ISRO prepares for landmark launch of #Chandrayaan2, #TeamISRO wishes @akshaykumar all the best for #MissionMangal and all his future endeavour
— ISRO (@isro) July 19, 2019
This sparked snide remarks on social media about how Kumar seemed to find a way to make films about significant events and vicariously grab the glory.
Only reason I want India to stop achieving new feats is so that we don't have to watch another Akshay Kumar film.
— Sayantan Ghosh (@sayantansunnyg) July 22, 2019
Fact that Akshay kumar hasn’t made a movie on Demonetisation is the biggest example of it’s failure.
— The Monk who sold his Fuckeeri. (@puntinational) July 22, 2019
In addition to Mission Mangal about India’s 2013 Mars mission, Kumar has appeared Gold, which focuses on India’s first post-Independence hockey gold medal at the 1948 London Olympics, and Airlift, which dealt with the 1990 evacuation of Indians from Kuwait following its invasion by Saddam Hussein.
Now, following the successful launch of India’s second lunar mission, memes on Kumar preparing for a future film about Chandrayaan-2 are all over social media.
Akshay Kumar looking at the #Chandrayaan2 launch and waiting for producer’s call for the movie. pic.twitter.com/dx9Hz3j4Ir
— Hahaakar (@aakarcr) July 22, 2019
Meanwhile Akshay kumar dealing with producers after the successful launch of #Chandrayan2 pic.twitter.com/e7tNedCOBX
— Rofl Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) July 22, 2019
Now I just need to know what Akshay Kumar was doing during the launch of #Chandrayaan2 pic.twitter.com/JFUJDuxtuF
— Poulomi (@pghosh006) July 22, 2019
Meanwhile, the film has been under the scanner for reportedly focusing too much on Kumar’s character, even though the mission’s success is largely credited to ISRO’s women scientists – played by Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Kirti Kulhari, Nithya Menon and Taapsee Pannu.
One tweet made a reference to star athlete Hima Das.
Can't wait for Hima Das biopic with Akshay Kumar in an as Hima Das
— Ahmed🥤 (@arkhmet) July 21, 2019
Another suggested that after making a film about the mission to Mars, the actor would embark on projects related to the other planets.
Upcoming science fiction drama film Movies of Akshay Kumar
— irfan (@simplyirfan) July 22, 2019
Mission Mangal 2019#MoonMission2 2020
Mission Varun 2021
Mission Shani 2022
Mission Arun 2023
Mission Yam 2024 pic.twitter.com/mjdEpqID6h