Throwback Tuesdays: when Akshay Kumar reportedly slapped Shakti Kapoor for cheating during a card game

Once upon a time in Bollywood, dark stories were whispered about and then quickly swept under the rug, as if they never occurred. One such tale revolves around a rumored confrontation between Akshay Kumar and Shakti Kapoor.

We stumbled upon this incident in an old blog, confirming the heated exchange between the two seasoned actors at a Diwali party. Further investigation led us to other sources discussing the same event.

According to reports allegedly sourced from a 2003 issue of Filmfare magazine, the altercation did occur. It was claimed that during the Diwali celebration, Akshay Kumar purportedly slapped Shakti Kapoor. However, Shakti Kapoor later shared his version of events from the party.

In an interview, he said, “Akki was cheating in the game. I told him not to do it. He pushed me, and I fell. He did not slap me. I left the party after that because I didn’t want it to get ugly. Akki’s still a friend, though we haven’t spoken after this incident.”

Yet, in the January 2003 Filmfare edition, Akshay Kumar offered his account, with minor alterations and said, “Shakti was an uninvited guest at the party. He was using foul language, which was embarrassing because there were so many ladies present. He was so drunk he couldn’t even stand up straight. All I did was give him a slight shove and he was down on the floor. If he says he saw me cheating at cards, he’s lying. He was so drunk he didn’t know what he himself was doing. I regret even touching him. Later, I asked myself why I even wasted my energy on a drunk. Anyway, it’s too late to have regrets now.”

Certainly, Akshay regretted the altercation, and Shakti Kapoor still considered him a friend. Akshay now prefers a disciplined lifestyle. As for the card game, there’s speculation about cheating, given Akshay’s reputation as a prankster.