Never aspired to be a big star like my father: Akshaye

Akshaye Khanna was last seen on the silver screen in the 2012 film Gali Gali Chor Hai. Now, the actor is set to make his Bollywood comeback with Dishoom, and he is thrilled. “I had a few personal issues that didn’t allow me to take on any work. Not being able to act was painful. But now I am back, and I feel like I am breathing again,” he says.

In an interview recently, Akshaye had admitted that he went through a “bad phase” in his career. Ask him if he expected his journey to be smoother, considering he is a star kid (he is the son of veteran actor Vinod Khanna), and the actor says, “I didn’t even know what to expect. I was naive and clueless. You can be anybody’s son or daughter, but it is the audience that accepts or rejects you. I feel the urge to tell aspiring actors, especially star kids, whether they have considered the possibility of rejection. It will stay with you for the rest of your life, and that’s not pleasant. You have to be blessed to be able to have a successful and long career in B-Town.”

Most star kids fear being compared to their parents. Akshaye says that fear can become overpowering if it isn’t dealt with. “It takes over everything. But I do not let it affect me. I never aspired to be a big star like my father. I can’t allow these comparisons to bother me,” says the actor.

Akshaye has always maintained that he isn’t “cut out” for marriage. And his views have still not changed. “I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life with the same person day in and day out. It’s just inconceivable for me,” he says.