In a career spanning 20 years, Akshay Kumar has earned the reputation of being a versatile actor and a bankable star. A trade source says, “Take 2016 alone. He started the year with Airlift, a realistic account of Indians being rescued from Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion in 1990. He followed it up with Housefull 3, a slapstick comedy, and is now coming up with director Tinu Suresh Desai's Rustom, based on a true incident that rocked the nation in 1959. Not one to rest on his laurels, the actor constantly pushes the envelope. And at the core, he knows that cinema must entertain.“

This brings us to the next question - why is Akshay so successful? He makes his films within tight budgets and ensures ROI (return on investment). Sources indicate that his home productions and even films with some independent producers were made on modest budgets. The satellite value of each of these films is around Rs 27 cr on an average. That means if you multiply it by 5, the recovery from satellite alone comes to Rs 135 cr. In many cases, the satellite rights of his films cover the cost of production. Moreover, the earnings from all other avenues, over and above the satellite costs, make AK a safe and saleable bet all the way.

Rustom, produced by Zee Studios and Kriarj Entertainment, in association with Cape Of Good Films and Friday Filmworks, releases on August 12.