Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; March 3, 2020)

A lull in career, even if it is a brief one, can shake the strongest of people. Akshay Oberoi knows it only too well. The actor went through a lull phase right at the beginning of his career and says that those tough days have ended up shaping his worldview. He shares, “I am not afraid of death, that is inevitable. Success, money, fame, stardom — all of that’s also secondary. They are just by-products. The only thing I care about is being in front of the camera. It keeps me happy and sane. I don’t even fear failure. I just fear another lull.”

Prod him further about this ‘lull’ and he says, “I was out of work for three-and-a-half years. That lull, after I had just done my first film (Isi Life Mein, 2010), was crushing. It was a tough phase to survive and I went back to theatre. I had just gotten married to my childhood sweetheart Jyothi Vynatheya, and I had no money. It’s difficult when you are married and not earning. You start wondering what your wife will think of you. Insecurities crop up and your confidence takes a major hit. She was earning and she took care of the house for a couple of years. But I knew that my only way was to keep at it. I kept pushing myself, and she believed in me. The break finally came when Bejoy Nambiar gave me a show called Rush (2012). After that, he told me that he wanted to make a film with me. I was 25 then. Six months later, he offered me Pizza (2014). And that’s how I was back in business.”

Akshay says that the struggle toughened him. “I have lost fear completely. Today, I do not worry about the length of my scenes or the screen time of my character. I see so many people getting trapped in this web, but it can kill you and your creativity. Now, even big directors and producers are inclined towards casting actors rather than stars. I don’t mind being called a character artiste. In fact, I would love it. Sab Salman Khan nahi ban sakte, but every actor has something unique to offer,” he signs off.