Akshay Kumar believes Hollywood superheroes are inspired by Indian mythology, Vishnu Manchu suggests Star Wars draws from Mahabharat
In a recent interview, Akshay Kumar stated that Hollywood draws heavily from Indian culture and mythology.;

Are you a fan of Hollywood superheroes like Iron Man, Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man? Actor Akshay Kumar believes many of these iconic characters—and their superpowers—draw inspiration from Indian mythology.
In a recent interview with Bollywood Hungama, Akshay was asked whether Indian stories are getting the platform they deserve. In response, he emphasized the richness of Indian mythology and how it has influenced storytelling globally.
“There are so many stories here, and I personally believe Hollywood borrows a lot from our mythology. Their superheroes and their powers are inspired by our ancient tales. The kind of stories we have is unbelievable,” Akshay said. He added that he himself was unaware of the legend of Kannappa until he became involved in the film.
Joining the conversation, Vishnu Manchu echoed Akshay’s thoughts. He remarked that even Star Wars seems to be inspired by the Mahabharata, and also pointed out how Steven Spielberg’s ET was allegedly similar to The Alien, a script by legendary Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray. This refers to a long-standing belief that ET, released in 1982, may have been influenced by Ray’s unproduced screenplay.
Both Akshay Kumar and Vishnu Manchu will appear in the upcoming mythological drama Kannappa, based on the story of Bhakta Kannappa, a devoted follower of Lord Shiva. Vishnu plays the lead role, with Mohanlal and Prabhas in key parts. Akshay Kumar takes on the role of Lord Shiva, while Kajal Aggarwal will portray Goddess Parvati. Produced by M. Mohan Babu, the film was showcased at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and is set to release on June 27. It will go head-to-head with Brad Pitt’s F1 film, which hits theaters just two days earlier.