Akshay Kumar on Raksha Bandhan: Dowry is a problem in India, the film talks about the problem and offers a solution

Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar-starrer Raksha Bandhan is all set to hit the theatres on August 11. Directed by Aanand L Rai, the family drama also features Sadia Khateeb, Smrithi Srikanth, Sahejmeen Kaur and Deepika Khanna, who play the sisters of Akshay in the film. Akshay, Aanand and the on-screen sisters of Akshay visited Kolkata to promote the film. While answering the media, the actor talked about dowry menace and equality between men and women. 

The trailer of Rakhsha Bandhan shows a brother, Akshay Kumar, trying his best to marry his sisters. He mortgages his shop to pay for one of his sisters’ marriages. Talking about if women need brothers as protectors, Akshay said, “I made many films on this that show how powerful a woman is. I came across many incidents in my life where I have seen women are a lot stronger than men. In cases of emergency, etc, women take a better stand and understand the situation much better. I have seen it in my life. I read about it. It is a scientifically proven fact. This film shows that.” 

Talking about a brother’s responsibility of marrying his sister off, he said, “Everyone should work, be independent or get married completely of their own will. It doesn’t matter if you are a boy or girl, you should do what you want to do. No one can force anyone to do anything.”

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Talking about whether Indian women need brothers as their protectors, Aanand said, “In reality, we need sisters and women to protect us. Indian women are much stronger than Indian men. They are the driving force and we are following them. The stronger the women the stronger the nation. While making the film I kept in mind that I will have to rectify certain things. I felt that let’s clean the little bit of stain that is there in our perception with a family-oriented drama. We should understand that our country is so great that we should not have this problem.”

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At the press conference, the actor addresses the issue of dowry. “It is a problem and the film talks about the problem and also offers a solution. This solution is something we think about in our small, little way. We came up with something and the rest is up to you and what you think is right. This film talks about solutions also,” he said.