I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL: AKSHAY
The actor says his aim is ‘only to do good, better and best work’
Once again making headlines for many different reasons, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar gets talking about personal achievements, national pride, and political rumours.
After being featured on the Forbes list of world’s highest paid entertainers earlier this year, you have now been ranked as the world’s 7th highest paid actor. How does it feel?
Well I’m not going to lie, it feels good momentarily but I never take these lists too seriously as they keep changing, like seasons. It’s not something I’d aimed for, the idea is only to do good, better and best work but of course I am forever grateful for things like these.
Gold has been receiving rave reviews. Which compliment has been the best so far?
It’s always good to see your work being lauded and appreciated, be it from the critics or the audiences. But honestly, when I open my social media and see so many clips of cinema halls filled with people standing up for the national anthem and thanking the makers about introducing them to a piece of history that they had no idea about, that for me is heart-touching and the perfect payback as that’s what we wanted, to establish a connect between the audiences and team India.
You are reuniting with Kareena Kapoor Khan for Good News. How’s Kareena as a costar, and when do you start shooting?
Yes that’s right, Kareena and I share a good rapport and an amazing onscreen chemistry. We hopefully begin Good News in January, 2019.
There are rumours that you are going to contest for a Lok Sabha seat from Punjab or Delhi in the 2019 elections. Is this true? Like you said it yourself, they are rumours. I’m not contesting elections, at least nothing that’s on the cards. At the moment, I’m extremely happy with the work that I’m doing, and I’d much rather continue doing that.
A reference in the purportedly leaked Justice Ranjit Singh commission report in Punjab suggests that you mediated a meeting between Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insaan and politician Sukhbir Singh Badal, regarding the release of the former’s controversial film. What do you have to say?
(Laughs) See, here’s another rumour! I’ve not seen or read any such report. I find it amusing. I’ve never met this person Mr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim ever in my life. I’ve met Sukhbir Singh Badal once or twice, that too at public functions. So, all this is clearly somebody’s wild imagination working overtime. What is this report about?
It is about incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib in Punjab in 2016...
My family and I’ve always had the highest regard for Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and I would request everyone to refrain from associating my name in any such controversy.