Vishnu Manchu on Akshay Kumar's character in 'Kannappa': 'I think it is Lord Shiva who chose him'

Vishnu Manchu is set to release his highly anticipated film 'Kannappa' on June 27, 2025. The movie, featuring stars like Preity Mukherjee, Akshay Kumar, Prabhas, Mohanlal, and Kajal Agarwal, will be available in multiple Indian languages. Ahead of the launch, Vishnu and Akshay appeared together in an interview to promote their devotional fantasy-action film.Akshay Kumar: The Perfect Choice for Lord ShivaIn his interview with Pinkvilla, Vishnu revealed that while writing the script, Akshay was the only actor he envisioned for the role of Lord Shiva. He felt that Akshay’s facial features, demeanor, and overall presence perfectly embodied the character, making him the ideal choice for the part.Divine Approval Behind Casting DecisionHe further said, "I did have a lot of people ask me if I am sure about Mr Akshay Kumar. I said that he's the only man I can think of. But spiritually speaking, I think it is Lord Shiva who chose him to play this character and not me. I could only propose. I got the approval from Lord Shiva".Challenges of Portraying Devotional CharactersManchu discussed the challenges of playing divine roles, noting that such characters are less common in the Hindi film industry but frequently portrayed in South Indian cinema through stories based on the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and other devotional themes. He believes that portraying these roles requires destiny, explaining that just as he was destined to play Kannappa, it was by Lord Shiva’s blessings that Akshay Kumar was chosen to play Lord Shiva.Akshay Kumar as the Face of Lord Shiva for a New GenerationHe also emphasized that for the current generation, Akshay is the definitive representation of Lord Shiva. Kumar expressed that he feels very fortunate and empowered to have been chosen for such a role, acknowledging that opportunities to portray divine figures like Lord Krishna or Lord Shiva are rare. He also highlighted the success of the movie, considering himself one of the luckiest people because of this experience.Release Details for 'Kannappa''Kannappa' is set to hit theatres on June 27, 2025, releasing alongside the films 'Maa' and 'F1'. The multi-starrer Telugu fantasy-action film, featuring Vishnu Manchu, Akshay Kumar, Prabhas, Mohanlal, Preity Mukhundhan, and Kajal Agarwal, will be available in multiple Indian languages.