Akshay Kumar once left his Housefull co-star Chunky Panday stranded at an Italian restaurant without paying the bill — a prank that nearly had Chunky washing dishes in the kitchen. The anecdote, recounted by Chunky on Kapil Sharma's comedy chat show, has resurfaced online and is drawing fresh laughter from fans of the franchise.

The Italy Incident, in Chunky's Own Words

In the resurfaced clip, Chunky Panday recalled how Akshay Kumar announced to the entire unit that he would be treating everyone to a meal at a restaurant in Italy during the Housefull shoot. 'Akshay Kumar did a Housefull with me,' Chunky said. 'He took me to a restaurant in Italy. He told everyone in the unit that Akshay Kumar is treating everyone. So everyone went there, drank wine, ate food and all that.'

Sensing the bill was about to arrive, Chunky — as a self-described senior — quietly excused himself to the bathroom to avoid the awkward moment. That is when the prank unfolded. 'These scoundrels left me in the bathroom and took the van,' he said.

The Kitchen Rescue

When Chunky emerged from the bathroom, the entire group had vanished. The hotel manager, tracking down who was responsible for the unpaid bill, found him and marched him straight to the kitchen. 'He caught me and took me straight to the kitchen to wash the utensils and all that,' Chunky recounted.

The situation was resolved only when Sajid Khan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala turned their vehicle around and came back to rescue him. Chunky, however, was not entirely without self-awareness: 'But you should have paid the bill and ended the conversation. I didn't have any money,' he added.

The Friendship Behind the Franchise

Akshay Kumar and Chunky Panday are long-time friends whose on-screen chemistry has become one of the defining elements of the Housefull franchise. Chunky's portrayal of the character Aakhri Pasta — complete with an exaggerated Italian accent — paired with Akshay's deadpan comic timing, has delivered some of Bollywood's most-quoted comedy sequences.

The duo's camaraderie, clearly extending well beyond the sets, has given the franchise a spontaneous energy that scripted gags alone rarely produce. The Italy restaurant story, in many ways, reads like an outtake the cameras missed.

Why the Clip Is Trending Now

Old episodes from Kapil Sharma's show have a long shelf life on social media, regularly resurfacing as audiences rediscover candid celebrity moments. This particular clip is circulating ahead of renewed interest in the Housefull franchise, keeping both stars in the public conversation. With the franchise having spanned multiple instalments over more than a decade, fan appetite for behind-the-scenes stories remains high.