‘DEMONETISATION HIT BOLLYWOOD’

Akshay Kumar says everyone has had to sacrifice for the greater good, and that movies will recover

This year was special for Akshay Kumar. He was the only A-lister with 3 blockbusters —Airlift, Rustom and Housefull 3. Looking back on the year, the 49-year-old feels “gratitude and excitement”. The actor also expresses respect for those who were hit hard by demonetisation, yet dealt “brilliantly” with it.

2016 was an exceptionally successful year for you. How do you look back on it?

I am sad that it’s over. Starting a new year can be daunting. After working so hard, it doesn’t seem to matter what you achieved that year, it will be forgotten by the next. But when you keep as busy as me, it’s nothing but excitement heading my way, so I’ll never crib. I’ll only ever yearn for more.

How far do you think our cinema has been hit by demonetisation?

Unfortunately, Bollywood was hit and hit hard, and I’m not surprised. Even my staff wasn’t able to go to the cinema on their usual Sundays off because they couldn’t spare 500 bucks. I can only imagine how hard it’s hit many areas of India. But everyone has had to sacrifice for the greater good. The movies will recover, eventually. But hats off to those that were hit the hardest, yet handled it brilliantly.

Your wife, Twinkle Khanna, is about to turn producer. Will her banner only produce films featuring you?

I doubt it. As much as my wife loves me, she gets enough of me at home, she’s not going to want to work only with me. Her ambitions spread much further than the comfort zone of her own home.

What can fans expect from you in 2017?

They can expect something they never would have expected from me. I can assure you of that. 2017 is a very big year, let’s hope it treats me as kindly as this year did, if not more.

Unfortunately, Bollywood was hit and hit hard, and I’m not surprised. Even my staff wasn’t able to go to the cinema on their usual Sundays off AKSHAY KUMAR, ACTOR

PHOTO: RAJEEV TYAGI/FOTOCORP