With two serious films-Skyforce and Kesari Chapter 2-he delivered top notch performances and got applause even if the box office didn't follow.

But just when the narrative around him was shifting positively he's going back to madcap comedy with Housefull 5.

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Will it continue the upward trend or drag him back into meme territory?

In just three months Akshay has played two intense, emotionally grounded roles that left a mark.

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Critics praised him. Audience appreciated the effort. So is Housefull 5, a murder mystery on a cruise with a massive star cast and over the top humor, the right follow up? Or is it too sudden a switch?

Let's be real-Housefull films aren't known for subtlety. They're loud, chaotic and unapologetically silly.

And while there's an audience for that Akshay just rebuilt his image as a "serious actor who's back." So the question is: will Housefull 5 feel like a fun palate cleanser or an unfortunate relapse?

Comedy especially slapstick is always at risk of being labelled "cringe" by critics. But what if this one's smarter?

What if the murder mystery twist gives it an edge? If Housefull 5 manages to surprise with clever writing and fresh gags Akshay might just pull off a rare win- retaining mass appeal and critical respect.

Akshay Kumar is walking a tightrope. One misstep and the trolls will be back. But if he gets it right, Housefull 5 could prove he can jump genres without losing credibility.

Will the cruise sail smoothly or hit an iceberg? We'll find out soon as Housefull 5 hits the big screen in 45 days time on June 6.