Akshay Kumar Says Hollywood Superheroes Are Rooted in Indian Mythology; Vishnu Manchu Claims Mahabharat Inspired Star Wars

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, alongside actor-producer Vishnu Manchu, recently made compelling remarks about the influence of Indian mythology on global pop culture—particularly Hollywood’s superhero narratives. Speaking during the promotions of their upcoming mythological film Kannappa, both actors expressed that many Western cinematic universes appear to have drawn inspiration from ancient Indian epics and characters.

Akshay Kumar emphasized the depth and richness of Indian mythology, stating that it contains countless powerful stories that remain largely untapped in cinema. He suggested that several Hollywood superhero powers and personas have roots in Indian mythological figures, adding, “Their superheroes and their superpowers are all inspired by our mythology. The kind of stories we have is unbelievable.” He revealed that he was introduced to the story of Kannappa, a deeply devoted follower of Lord Shiva, only while working on this project—despite the tale being centuries old and culturally significant.

Echoing Akshay’s views, Vishnu Manchu took the conversation further by citing examples. He claimed that the globally popular Star Wars saga has been inspired by the Indian epic Mahabharat, pointing to the thematic and narrative similarities. Additionally, he mentioned that Satyajit Ray’s unproduced film The Alien might have influenced Steven Spielberg’s E.T., noting the longstanding speculation that Hollywood had drawn from Ray’s original concepts.

The comments come as the team gears up for the release of Kannappa, a multilingual mythological epic set to hit theaters on June 27, 2025. The film features Vishnu Manchu in the title role, with Akshay Kumar playing Lord Shiva. The star-studded cast also includes Prabhas, Mohanlal, and Kajal Aggarwal. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024 and aims to revive interest in India’s rich mythological heritage.

Both actors highlighted the universal relevance and cinematic potential of Indian mythology, stressing that these stories deserve a global platform and renewed attention in contemporary storytelling.