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
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 3, 2020)

He has been on a roll for the past few years with a track record of back-to-back 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 multi-starrers 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.

2019 turned out to be another super successful year for you. Does such success streak make you happy, or pressurise you since there are a lot of expectations from you now?
Expectation is the root cause of disappointment. Every actor wants every film of his to work, no matter how many successes he/she has had. And that’s how even I function, but while striving for success, sometimes you get lucky, and at times, you don’t. So, what’s important is to take it all in your stride, be it the past glory or failure, and move ahead.

Talking about Sooryavanshi, it’s the first time that you have teamed up with filmmaker Rohit Shetty. How was it being a part of his ‘over-the-top, super entertaining’ world?
Rohit knows exactly what he wants and I know his filming style is “over-the-top” but it’s massy as well. He knows the pulse of the audience and what works with them. So, it was a lot of fun blowing up cars and hanging from helicopters, as it’s all completely within my comfort zone (laughs).

With such back-to-back hits, many wonder if you have hit upon a secret mantra. Is there one?
If I tell you, then it wouldn’t be secret. Right? I am just kidding, as there’s no secret mantra. It’s all about a little bit of hard work and lots of luck because even if you work really hard but luck isn’t on your side, then there’s nothing really that you can do.

One thing that really stands out in your filmography is the sheer variety that you have been offering, and that too successfully. Has it been a well thought-out strategy?
Well, as they say, ‘variety is the spice of life.’ And though I can’t handle spices in my food, they are a must in my films (laughs). I don’t like to be monotonous – trying out something new excites me and luckily for me, I’ve been getting new script ideas which make me tick.

For some time now, there has been a lot of talk about the big Eid clash between Salman Khan’s Radhe and your Laxmmi Bomb…
I’m aware, but it’s not my career’s first clash and I’m also fully aware that it won’t be the last. With the volume of films releasing every year in our industry, and the limited number of Fridays, clashes are bound to happen. The chatter is more when two big films clash, as more is at stake, but it’s very natural.
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Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 3, 2020)

Akshay Kumar is one actor who never shies away when it comes to helping the lesser privileged or uplifting the society. In the same stride, he has donated ₹1.5 crore to build a transgender home in Chennai.

Filmmaker Raghava Lawrence, who took to Facebook to announce this, claims it’s the “first time in India” that a transgender home is being set up. In fact, it was during the shoot of the director’s film Laxmmi Bomb that Akshay came to know about the initiative, and readily extended a helping hand. Raghava says that he was once sharing his plans to make a shelter for transgenders, with Akshay, who then asked: “Can I build this building?”

“I was shocked as we were planning to go to big people and ask (for help), even doing a show through which we could collect funds, but here was Akshay sir. These kind of people are God... The place is yet to be ready,” Raghava tells us.

The move has been welcomed by LGBTQI+ activists such as Gauri Sawant, who says, “It’s a good initiative if someone is donating money for the community... (Bollywood stars like Akshay) supporting this is the need of the hour.” And equal rights activist Harish Iyer adds, “It’s a welcome move and people should stand up for other people.”

Filmmaker Sridhar Rangayan, whose works have had special focus on queer subjects, adds, “Transgender people have a lot of problems in finding a home. A commune like this is very welcome.”