September 17, 2017
He is 50 but Akshay Kumar continues to defy age with his
looks, physique, stunts and spirit. While he says his passion gets him going,
industry experts say the fact he keeps reinventing himself with right stories
has helped his success story.
The National Award-winning actor, who will
soon be seen judging Star Plus' comedy show "The Great Indian Laughter
Challenge", started his career in 1991 with "Saugandh". But it was "Khiladi" in
1992 which eventually gave him the epithet as Bollywood's 'Khiladi'.
After establishing himself as a master of action roles, he moved into romantic
and comedy zomes with films like "Hera Pheri", "Dhadkan", "Ek Rishtaa: The Bond
of Love", "Welcome", "Singh Is Kinng" and "Housefull".
His movies "OMG:
Oh My God", "Special 26", "Holiday", "Airlift", "Rustom", "Jolly LLB 2" and the
latest "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha" have only added to his list of fans.
In 26
years of his bumpy ride as an actor, Akshay has come a long way. But he says he
still has the enthusiasm of a youngster whenever he takes up a new project.
"Honestly, in my head, I made my debut two weeks ago. You play the song and
I will start dancing on 'Waada raha sanam' (song from 'Khiladi'). I have never
lost interest and passion.
"When I say it, I mean it that age is just a
number, because it has not affected anything. In my mind space, I am still the
same guy," said Akshay, who grew up in Delhi's Chandni Chowk area and is
proficient in martial arts.
Akshay has films like "Padman", "2.0" and
"Gold" in his kitty -- each different from the other.
It is this
interesting choice of movies that makes Akshay relevant in the competitive
Bollywood world and makes him give younger actors a run for their money.
"It's just that the audience has woken up to him today," says filmmaker Suneel
Darshan, who has worked with Akshay in "Jaanwar", "Andaaz", "Ek Rishtaa", "Haan
Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya", "Talaash: The Hunt Begins", "Mere Jeevan Saathi" and
"Dosti: Friends Forever".
"With every movie he kept growing," he
recounted with a smile, adding that Akshay was in a "fortunate phase" in his
life.
Film business analyst Girish Johar told IANS: "Akshay Kumar has
been consistently doing three to four films for the past so many years and that
is a commendable feat, which no other star actor has done.
"On top of it,
selecting the right stories, the right set up, the right different genres and
placing them smartly takes a huge effort. He has done all this with elan and has
been successful too.
"The public and trade look forward to all his films
with equal excitement always. All his hardwork is bearing fruit now, and I am
sure he is still not resting on his laurels... But gunning for more."
Filmmaker Farah Khan, who directed Akshay in "Joker", told IANS: "I know Akshay
since he came for 'Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar' auditions... I think he's a true
survivor and a true inventor because earlier he used to do all B-grade movies at
one time and then he really re-invented himself.
"He was an action hero,
then he reinvented himself and became a comic hero and he did so well... Now he
is doing socially relevant movies, so I think it's fabulous that he has had such
a long career because when he started, he was not such a big star."
Now,
while producers mostly laugh their way to banks with movies featuring Akshay, he
is happy about living the "fun of getting paid for laughing" via "The Great
Indian Laughter Challenge".