‘IT’S A SURPRISE I’VE COME THIS FAR’
As Akshay Kumar crosses the 150-film mark, he says it wasn’t even in his “wildest dreams” that he would survive as a Bollywood actor for so long
He has been on a roll for the past few years with a track record of back-toback successes. A case in point: Last year all four of his films (Kesari, Mission Mangal, Housefull 4 and Good Newwz) hit bull’s eye. But Akshay Kumar, who’s readying for the release of Rohit Shetty’s Sooryavanshi next, insists he doesn’t have any “success mantra” but only hard work to credit for the feat. “It’s been a good two decades plus [for me], and I want to be here [in Bollywood] only,” says the actor, who has multiple releases in 2020 as well. Excerpts from an interview:
Last year, you completed your 150th film. That’s been quite a trip. How do you look at the journey?
I truly believe in counting my blessings, and gratitude is all I feel. More than awe, it’s a surprise that I’ve come this far, because it’s something I didn’t imagine even in my wildest dreams when I started out. It’s been a good two decades plus for me, and I want to be here [in Bollywood] only, doing this every day of my life, till audiences want me to do it.
You have had a very special and successful association with cop roles in your career. Now, as you return to that space in Sooryavanshi, what are your feelings like?
Any role that requires me to wear a uniform – be it of an army person, navy officer or a police man – it automatically instills a sense of pride. In my career, I’ve had the good fortune of portraying all the above mentioned parts. Now, the only part I’m yet to do is that of an Air Force pilot. Let’s see if I get lucky with that as well.
Unlike most cop dramas in Bollywood, the film’s storyline is extremely relevant to today’s times and the world that we live in. Was that one of the reasons for you to say yes to the film?
Of course, and I’ve said that before also. It’s true that the main idea of making a film is to entertain but, along with that, if a message can also be conveyed in an entertaining manner, I’m absolutely game. Plus, having watched and enjoyed Singham (2011) and Simmba (2018), I was very happy to collaborate with the master action director, Rohit Shetty and be a part of his cop universe.
The film has you along with Ranveer Singh and Ajay Devgn. How was that, especially since nowadays, we don’t see big stars sharing screen space with one another? Does that bother you?
Absolutely not, I’ve always believed in ‘more the merrier’.
It’s a pity that unlike Hollywood, we don’t do multistarrers or even two-hero films in Bollywood. As for shooting with them, it was great. In fact, Ajay and I go back a long way, having done quite a few films together [mainly in the 90s] when ‘two-hero’ films were a thing. And Ranveer is a good friend, we share a great rapport on and off screen.
Any role that requires me to wear a uniform – be it of an army or navy officer or a cop – it instills a sense of pride. Now, the only part I’m yet to do is of an Air Force pilot.
AKSHAY KUMAR ACTOR