Akshay Kumar, known for his playful antics, took to the streets of Mumbai in disguise to gauge audience reactions to his recently released film, "Housefull 5." The actor donned a "killer mask," similar to one featured in the movie, and surprised moviegoers outside a Bandra theatre on Sunday, June 8, 2025.
Kumar shared a video of his undercover escapade on Instagram, capturing the experience of interviewing unsuspecting viewers. In the video, he is seen holding a microphone and questioning people exiting the theatre about their thoughts on the film and their favorite actors. Many praised the movie and Kumar's performance, unaware that they were speaking directly to the star himself.
The actor wrote in his Instagram post, "Bas yun hi I decided to wear the killer mask and interview people coming out of the Housefull 5 show at Bandra today. Pakda jaane wala thaa end mein but bhaag gaya us se pehle. Mast experience." This translates to: "Just like that, I decided to wear the killer mask and interview people coming out of the Housefull 5 show at Bandra today. I almost got caught at the end, but I ran before that. Fun experience."
In the video, Akshay is dressed casually in a striped shirt and jeans, further concealing his identity. While many moviegoers walked past him or offered brief comments, others were more enthusiastic, freely sharing their opinions on the film's comedy and performances. One person even pointed out the similarity between Kumar's mask and the one used by a character in the movie, still oblivious to the actor's true identity. However, towards the end of the video, a woman appears to recognize him and films him with a smile.
The stunt quickly went viral, with fans reacting to Kumar's daring move. Comments on his post included admiration for his ability to go unnoticed and jokes about him revealing his identity like Robert Downey Jr. Some fans expressed regret at not recognizing him, while others praised the video for providing genuine, unfiltered public reviews.
"Housefull 5," the latest installment in the comedy franchise, was released in theaters on Friday, June 6, 2025. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film has had a strong start at the box office. On its first Sunday, the movie collected Rs 32 crore, taking the total to Rs 87 crore. According to early estimates, the film earned Rs 24 crore on its opening day. It saw a sharp jump on the second day, collecting Rs 31 crore. The film is expected to cross Rs 100 crore soon.
The film features an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Chitrangada Singh, Fardeen Khan, Chunky Pandey, and Johnny Lever. "Housefull 5" is directed by Tarun Mansukhani and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala.
In an innovative move, the film was released in two versions, "Housefull 5A" and "Housefull 5B," each featuring a different climax and murderer, a concept envisioned by Nadiadwala for 30 years.
