Nation in the spotlight of the Cannes film market which is held on the sidelines of the Festival, India loses one of its most emblematic ambassadors a few days before the curtain raising, Tuesday, of the festivities on the Croisette.
Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar had to give up accompanying his country's delegation due to covid-19.
This is the second time in a year that the 54-year-old comedian has contracted the disease.
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Akshay Kumar expressed his disappointment to his Twitter followers who wished him a speedy recovery.
AR Rahman and Shekhar Kapur on the Croisette
The man who has long been nicknamed the Indian "Jackie Chan" for his mastery of stunts and his taste for action films was to swell the ranks of a delegation which also includes composer AR Rahman (
Slumdog Millionaire
), director Shekhar Kapur author of the biopic
Elizabeth
which launched Cate Blanchett and the young actress of 22 years Pooja Hegde.
India's highest paid actor with $48.5 million in 2020, Akshay Kumar is actively promoting the grand historical
Prithviraj
.
The feature film, expected in theaters in early June, tells the story of the last Hindu king of Delhi Prithivîrâja Châhumâna III.
Living in the late 12th century, his tragic exploits on the battlefield have been immortalized in several traditional poems and chansons de geste.
His defeat at Tarain against Sultan Muhammad Ghûrî opens the way to the Islamization of the continent.
Akshay Kumar takes on the role of the warrior and shares the poster with the former miss world 2017 Manushi Chhillar who plays one of his wives and makes his debut in front of the camera.
