Akshay Kumar : Bollywood Star (India)

Akshay Kumar: Biography

The movie business, like sports, is heartless when you falter. You're put out to pasture the moment you can't deliver the goods. They just get a fresh horse. So since the business has become the heart of your life, you have to stay in the race and keep on running knowing that one day you just might run out of gas. Akshay Kumar, Rajiv HariOm Bhatia knows that very well.

Therefore, despite several hits to his credit, he constantly works. He has boundless energy, he can go on working for hours. The minute he achieved star status, Akshay began to worry. If that status begins to slip, who'll really want him? Thus,he feels he still has something to prove in terms of people seeing everything he can do he really goes makes him go for it.

That's what makes him different- he works harder and goes further than anyone. These days, tinsel town's hippest action hero has a whole new perspective. Everything he does, his name's on it, so he wants it to be good. He's like a champion, he wants to win Secretively, he aims to go higher, faster, farther, better. And it's all about competition, but with himself, not against anyone else,to go one better than the last stunt he performed. What else could make a guy leap off the 21 st storey of a highrise building for a film (Angaarey)? He has grown up and taken charge, and as he heads into the next bend in his career, he is having the time of his life. Most important to Akshay is the creation of the hero himself, the ethical man in an unethical society, achieving against all odds."I like people who go against insurmountable odds," he says. Small wonder. Over the years he has suffered injuries and ignored them, the worst being the grave back injury that had him rushing to the USA for special treatment. But he speaks almost affectionately about these aches and bruises, badges of honour of an actor who puts his body on the line and pushes his formidable physical stamina to the limits. However, he is surprisingly unmarked, despite simulating all kinds of vicious hand-to-hand combat and those daredevil stunts.

No matter what happens, many observers, perhaps jealous of his athletic abilities, dream job, good looks and fabulous lifestyle will undoubtedly continue to portray him as a dilettante. Yet the vast majority regard this unassuming young man as a true Prince Charming. He's a person who's comfortable in his own skin. Whenever a man's like that, women are incredibly attracted to him. He has appealed to both sexes more broadly than any of Bollywood's similarly categorized superstars. There's a glint in his eye that says,"Do you want to play?" It can have a sexual undertone to a woman or, to a man portraying a heavy, it says, "Let's spar, let's see who's the boldest." He has always been an action hero with a soul, a rock with a ripple of vulnerability running through him. His action film are Khiladiyon Ke Khiladi, Sabse Bada Khiladi, Mohra, Jai Kishan. Khiladi name proved quite lucky for this action hero. Tu Anari Mein Khiladi, Mr and Mrs Khiladi, Khiladi, Khiladiyon Ke Khiladi, Sabse Bada Khiladi, were super hit movies. The media loves him and pays anything for photos of him with the hottest female stars around. He's always beleaguered by autograph seekers, and at times, even mobbed, but it's not a burden. He revels in the adulation.

But despite his incredible success, he is slightly perturbed by much of the criticism aimed at him by movie reviewers, but he doesn't show it. Also, he's really not a monosyllabic fool. The truth is, no one really knows him. He does get frustrated sometimes, realizing how futile it is to try to change the public's perception of him. Therefore, even though he enjoys someone's company immensely, one can discern a nagging, persistent urge in him to hold back as if he doesn't know who he can trust. But he's gradually learned to pretty much ignore the critics.

Although they make fun of his roles, Akshay gets to laugh all the way to the bank. Image might be his livelihood, but Akshay just doesn't seem to care whether he seems tough or not. He doesn't bother to talk tough, or act tough, or get tough, but he's got enough grit to play tough heroes and seem as authentic as anyone in movies can. Instead of a lot of bluster and posturing over manhood, he displays a low-key firmness, a quiet strength of character. He's modest, but he knows his strengths. He's incredibly solid. The core of who he is hasn't changed all these years. The incredibly well-preserved humanity in him comes from his inner strength. Despite his relative youth, he's a pro, a consummate professional. He doesn't apologize for his luck, perhaps because no actor of his generation has worked harder at being lucky than he has. But he's blessed with the talent for making whatever he does on screen look so easy, as though he were always simply playing himself.

In the right mood, he can be breathtakingly candid about himself and is the first to admit he's no great shakes as an interviewe. He wishes he was like one of those people who are good at one-liners, take off into other areas and be really funny.Cause he never disappoints -he always delivers exactly what is expected of him. At the least. On the sets of Keemat, he's still as cordial and friendly as he was when he started out, especially with the crew. He chats and jokes with them, and he knows quite a few of them by name. His dark, rumpled hair, despite his best efforts, falls into his eyes, and unless that shirt he's wearing has a famous tag, you'd have to call him the least pretentious of stars. Right now, he concedes that he's having a good time but keeps his natural ebullience in check. It's clear though that this easygoing hunk is also an emotional soul which is no more evident than when you ask him about the first moment when he felt he had become famous. Looking into the far distance, he says,"lt was just after the completion of Saugandh. We had a special screening of the film and my relatives came down specially from Delhi to watch it with my family. And the pride and happiness on their faces later, clearly spelt it out that I had become famous.

Today, he's come a long way from those initial days of struggle and achieved more than what any newcomer usually aspires for. So does it ever occur to him that he has everything today and feel that his dreams have come true? He smiles and humours, "Why count me out? I too had dreams but what I've achieved today is way beyond what I had ever imagined. My dream was a small, cosy flat, now I have a four bedroom apartment. My dream was to drive a Premier Padmini, I own a Mitsubishi Pajero now. It's only God's grace that I've acquired so much in life.

" Apart from the first couple of years when he hardly made waves, his career has been on a comet course ever since he struck gold with Khiladi. He hasn't looked back after that and emerged victorious at every step. In that sense, would he call himself a survivor or a winner? . For him the barometer of success is surviving in the industry for years together and being as popular as ever. Dharamji, Jeetuji, Dilipsaab and Amitabh Bachchan are true successes as they've been around for eons while I've just started out. If I do manage last as long as these greats I'd consider myself a winner. Right now, I've simply crossed the first 10 meters in a 100 meter race.

Coming to another aspect of his career till date, the tag of action hero has stuck. He's proved his excellence in almost every department as a leading star but has yet to win accolades for his acting abilities. Doesn't he desire to be known as a true-blue actor some day? He counters this one with a self-assuredness of someone who knows what he wants in life. "I'd rather be a Jack of all trades than a master of one. I want to be known as a hero in the truest sense of the word. A hero can dance, perform stunts as well as be a good actor. Like Dharamji, for example. I'd love to emulate him, if possible. So you see, I prefer being an all-rounder.

There's no doubt that he's on his way to accomplish what he's worKing so hard for. But there are always those minor hiccups on the way to achieving one's goals. And his last release, Sapoot, has indeed been one such aberration. Despite two of the best action stars in him and Sunil Shetty, the film bit the dust. Before one can ask to pinpoint the flaws, he throws up his hands up in exasperation and protests, "Why sit down and dissect the film now? You can't pinpoint as to what went wrong with the film. When a film doesn't click, it means that the teamwork didn't click at all. Anyway, at least I was disappointed by the failure of the film as I had really worked very hard in it. But it's such disappointments that motivate me to work harder than ever.

Incidentally, there are a couple of films ready for release, the songs of which have become quite popular. Especially the Barana de number from Jimmy Nirula's Insaaf is already on every toddler's lips. But the film that many of his fans are quite looking forward to is Mehul Kumar's Lahao Ke Da Rang where -he's pitted once again against heavyweight actor, Naseeruddin Shah. Akshay waxes eloquent about the man himself.

Naseerbhai is a very fine person, quite down-to-earth and very professional. But what I really admire in him is his fabulous memory. Leave alone his dialogues, he even remembers his position and movements months after he last shot a scene. One can really learn a lot from him.

On the other hand, according to recent reports, all's not well between him and director Mehul Kumar. Differences cropped up between them while shooting the climax of the film. "Impossible!" he retorts instantly. "If that was the case, why would I be doing his next film? Maybe because we fought that he's signed me for another film, huh?" he remarks sarcastically.

Another director of his who was in the news recently was Dharmesh Darshan of the recently launched Dhadkan Reportedly, the project was beset by problems and he had decided to walk out of the project. But Akshay confirms to the contrary, "But now he's back. After all, the film is his baby. How could he leave his baby in someone else's hands? I knew he would come back". Another reason for Dhadkan being in the news was the buzz that Akshay had recommended Arbaaz Khan for the role that Sunil Shetty had earlier declined. But being the modest man he is, he pooh-poohs the thought. "There's nothing such as recommendations. Everyone felt that the role suited Arbaaz. It was a common decision to take him in the film."

Amomg his films on the floors, there's Sameer Malkan's Keemat that has been in the making for quite a long time.Keemat according to sneak previewers, is yet another fun-filled entertainer with the popular combination of Akshay and Saif Ali Khan. But hasn't the debacle of Tu Chor Main Sipahi put a wet towel on their combo? If the film on the whole is good, we could emerge winners once again. Another Akshay-Saif film in the making is the Lawrence D'souza vehicle, Arzoo. But what's unique here is that he's been paired for the very first time with Madhuri Dixit. One wonders what he feels working with the fine actress. "It has been a nice experience working with such a senior actress. For a chance, there's not much hullabaloo on the sets. It's a calm and pleasant atmosphere. Speaking of senior actresses, one is reminded of his long-stalled film, Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin opposite Sridevi. According to inside sources, efforts are on to revive the film soon. It's also being said that Akshay has played the peacemaker between the producer and the financier. "Oh yeah!" he quips tongue-in-cheek. "When things went wrong with the film, I was to blame for it and when things are hopefully falling into place, I'm the peacemaker, huh? Don't you guys ever stop imagining things? Anyway, I hope work starts on the film soon." His latest release was Yash Chopra's " Dil To Pagal Hai " which he's doing with Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri and Karisma Kapoor, he stuns us when he reveals that, "I've only got a guest appearance in the film and have shot for it already." How sad!

After the successful Dhadkan Akshay has again the team of Dharmesh Darshan in Haan Maine Bhi Pyar Kiya. So what kind of role he is playing in the film? “I am playing an actor who is very much like me,” Akshay informs, “and unlike our Bollywood-version of on-screen actors, he is a happy man and wants everyone around him to be happy in life.”

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