Independence Day 2021 Special: How Akshay Kumar Has Dominated This Holiday At The Box Office Since 2013

Today, it marks the second Independence Day in a row when movie theatres across India have witnessed a lull at the Box-Office. The Covid pandemic hit all businesses strongly but theatres haven’t yet been able to revive themselves from the after-effects. But now all hopes are pinned on Akshay Kumar and his upcoming release Bell Bottom, also featuring Vaani Kapoor, Lara Dutta and Huma Qureshi, to bring life back at the cash counters.

Holidays have always been a favourable period of movie release for the big stars. While Aamir Khan dominates the Christmas time, Salman Khan has Eid, Shah Rukh Khan prefers Diwali and Akshay and John Abraham have dominated the national holidays of Republic Day and Independence Day. John’s domination might still be a comparatively new one, but Akshay’s authority has lasted on Independence Day since 2013. From 2013 to 2019, Akshay has blocked this date for six out of seven times.

In 2013, it all started with Akshay, Imran Khan and Sonakshi Sinha-starrer Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara! The film failed to create the same magic as its predecessor, featuring Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, Prachi Desai and Kangana Ranaut, but it did start Akshay’s tryst with this date.

In 2014, Akshay arrived a week earlier than the I-Day weekend with Entertainment, but just the next year, he made well with his date with I-Day with the sports drama Brothers, featuring him alongside Siddharth Malhotra and Jacqueline Fernandez.

In 2016, Akshay continued the tradition that lasted till the time theatres were in business, as he arrived with Rustom, which featured Akshay alongside Ileana D’Cruz, Esha Gupta and Arjan Bajwa. The film also remains special as it bagged him his first ever National Award for Best Actor.

The next year, Akshay enjoyed the I-Day weekend with Bhumi Pednekar and their film Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. The social dramedy emerged as a box-office success, cementing the actor’s tryst with the date.

In 2018, Akshay arrived again at the I-Day with his film Gold, but this time things were a bit different as he faced a competition with John Abraham and his release, Satyameva Jayate. This also started John’s shared domination over the date.

In 2019, it was again a clash between John and Akshay at the box-office on I-Day as John came with Batla House while Akshay came with the multi-starrer Mission Mangal, also featuring Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, Sonakshi Sinha, Nithya Menon and Sharman Joshi. Both the films achieved success at the box-office but it also marked the last I-Day yet on which those theatres enjoyed a full house.

Had the pandemic not been there, John would have kept his date with the I-Day last year with Attack and this year, Akshay is arriving in theatres four days later than his favourite date, with Bell Bottom releasing on August 19. But seeing the scenario, the film will be a litmus test for theatre business which will determine its future. Although, Akshay’s monopoly over the I-Day seems to be now heading towards a shared domination with him and John and that is something that will hopefully continue for a while to come.