Akshay Kumar has come out firmly in support of his Bhooth Bangla co-star Wamiqa Gabbi, pushing back against the now-familiar comparisons that link the younger actor to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and, in some reports, Katrina Kaif. In recent coverage around the film’s release, Akshay said Wamiqa should be recognized for her own work and identity rather than being boxed into lookalike narratives.
The timing matters. Bhooth Bangla, directed by Priyadarshan, has just opened in theatres and early reports suggest the film has drawn a strong response at the box office, giving fresh momentum to conversations around its cast. According to recent trade-linked reporting carried by The Times of India, the film released on May 17, 2026, and crossed Rs 60 crore worldwide by its second day.
Still, the chatter around Wamiqa hasn’t been only about the movie. A chunk of the online conversation has drifted, predictably, toward her appearance — especially her eyes — with some social media users and entertainment reports drawing parallels to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Akshay’s response appears to be a direct rejection of that framing. Rather than leaning into the publicity value of those comparisons, he emphasized that Wamiqa has built a place for herself and deserves to be seen on her own terms.
That line lands because it cuts through a familiar Bollywood habit. New actresses, especially those who arrive with striking screen presence, are often introduced to audiences through resemblance: she looks like this star, reminds people of that star, carries the same aura as someone already famous. It’s lazy, honestly. And it often reduces an actor’s craft to a visual shorthand before audiences have even had time to engage with the performance.
Wamiqa, for her part, has been steadily building a reputation that hardly needs borrowed shine. Her rise has come through a mix of film and streaming work, and Bhooth Bangla gives her one of her most visible mainstream Hindi releases alongside Akshay Kumar. The film itself also marks Akshay’s reunion with Priyadarshan, a pairing that has long carried nostalgic value for Bollywood audiences.
There’s another layer here too. In the run-up to the film, Akshay and Priyadarshan were already fielding questions about the age-gap pairing between Akshay, 58, and Wamiqa, 32. Akshay brushed aside the criticism in earlier interviews, arguing that such pairings are not unusual onscreen and that the demands of a script sometimes dictate casting choices. In those same interactions, he also spoke appreciatively about Wamiqa’s working style.
So this latest defense fits a broader pattern: Akshay isn’t just promoting a co-star, he’s publicly insisting she be treated as an individual performer. That may sound small, but in an industry hooked on comparison, it stands out.
For Wamiqa Gabbi, the moment is useful beyond the headline. The attention may have begun with who she resembles, but the more interesting question now is whether Bhooth Bangla helps shift the conversation toward what she actually does on screen. Akshay Kumar, at least, seems to think that’s where the spotlight belongs. .
