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Akshay KumarVarinder Chawla

Akshay Kumar has finally responded to his National Film Awards controversy, and said that he is ready to give away the honour if people think he does not deserve it.

National Awards 2017: Check complete Bollywood's winners list

Akshay had won the National Film Award for Best Actor this year for his performance in movie Rustom. While celebrities and his fans wished the actor for the achievement, a major section of people had opined that Aamir Khan deserved the award for his performance in Dangal.

Now, Akshay says that if it is believed that he does not deserve a National Award even after 25 years of his career, he can let it go. "I have been working in the film industry for the last 25 years and I have noticed that every time whoever wins a National Award, the debate starts on who deserves to win the award. I got it after 25 years. If you think I don't deserve it, you can take it away," The Times of India quoted Akshay as saying when asked to comment on the controversy.

Rustom
Akshay Kumar in RustomTwitter

Although it was first announced that he was given the award for Rustom, later jury head Priyadarshan had said that he won the award for Airlift as well. Some had even raised doubts that Akshay got the honour in exchange of money, or for being close friends with Priyadarshan.

"Itna keh sakta hun mai ki ye award bhi maine imandari se jita hai. Maine aaj tak cheating nahi ki. Neither have I ever made a call to anyone to win an award nor have given money or done favours for it," Akshay had said in response to the allegations.