Akshay Kumar plays a spy from the ’80s who’s racing against time to save 212 Indians on board an ill-fated flight in an espionage thriller currently being shot
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 9, 2020)

On August 21, Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta and Huma Qureshi kicked off the shoot of their espionage thriller, Bellbottom, in Glasgow, the first Bollywood unit to venture outside India, since the shoots resumed after the Coronavirus-induced lockdown. The makers have recreated the ’80s and the marathon schedule will go on till September-end. The shoot commenced with a 10-day indoor schedule, before the team stepped out. Mirror has learnt that the Ranjit M Tewari directorial is inspired by real events, set against the backdrop of a hijack. Akshay’s character, a flamboyant spy, races against time to save the 212 Indians on-board the ill-fated flight, who have been taken hostage.

Confirming the news, Jackky Bhagnani, who is producing the film with father Vashu, Deepshikha Deshmukh and Nikkhil Advani, says, “Our film is an espionage thriller revolving around a hijack. We’ll be shooting at multiple real locations across Scotland, including the airport, which is a vintage structure and blends well with the setting of our film.”

Akshay turns 53 today and it will be a working birthday for him. However, Jackky confides that they’ve planned a special surprise for the actor.

The team flew to the UK on August 6 and used the mandatory 14-day quarantine period to continue with their prep and finalise last minute details in place. “This shoot is special because it’s been a while since we were on a film set. It’s a relief to be back in action. We have a Covid officer on the set all the time and sanitisation, masks, and other SOPs are being followed strictly,” informs Jackky, adding that over the next few weeks, they will be filming on the streets of Glasgow.

While Lara has shot her scenes, Vaani Kapoor, who plays Akshay’s leading lady, joined the unit in Glasgow recently. Huma is there too. The film is scheduled to open on April 2, on the Good Friday weekend.

Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 4, 2019)

After wrapping up a major chunk of his next, the horror comedy Laxmmi Bomb, Akshay Kumar will bring in his 52nd birthday on September 9 in London. He will be flying out this weekend with wife Twinkle and kids Aarav and Nitara.

The actor was in London recently with his mother Aruna Bhatia and posted a picture of himself wheeling her around the Queen’s City, pointing out that no matter how busy you are with life and growing up, it’s important not to forget that your parents are growing old too and spend some time with them while you can.

Talking about the upcoming birthday, a source close to the actor informed, “It will be a lowkey celebration for the Kumars. The idea is to spend quality time with the entire family.”

Last year, Akshay had turned 51 with a family dinner in Mumbai. Among the guests was friend and Housefull 4 co-star Bobby Deol. In 2017, he had vacationed in the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland for four days. This year too, the family break will last for less than a week, as the birthday boy is scheduled to kick off a film in Mumbai after which he will start promoting Sajid Nadiadwala’s Housefull 4, which opens this Diwali. The Farhad Samji-directed reincarnation comedy features Akshay in two avatars. In the present day, he is a barber and in the Bahubali era, he plays a character who is bald and sports a handlebar moustache.

DNA (September 9, 2018)

Akshay Kumar, who turns 51 today, is all smiles. His plans for the day include spending time with his mother, Aruna Bhatia, and family. But the infectiousness in his mood is more due to his app (Bharat Ke Veer, which he has designed with the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide relief to families of martyred soldiers) being a huge hit.

The app that was launched last April has proved beneficial to the cause. Though the Bollywood superstar refrained from commenting on its success, a source close to him said, “Akshay has been doing his bit for martyred soldiers for a long time now. However, Bharat Ke Veer gives every civilian in India an opportunity to make a contribution to the families of the bravehearts, who have died fighting for our nation.”

Once you have logged on to the app, you can see how your contributions go directly to the widows and kin of the late soldiers without any filters. Each family’s entitlement has been currently capped at Rs 15 lakhs. Over the years, Akshay has played an active role in raising awareness about various social causes. The success of initiatives such as this app give him a sense of fulfilment.

Moreover, on September 6, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced that the enterprise has now been formalised into a registered Trust. Akshay and former national badminton champion Pullela Gopichand are among its six trustees. In a series of tweets, Rajnath made the announcement and also wrote, “Ministry of Finance @FinMinIndia has now given approval to @BharatKeVeer Trust under 80(G) which in effect means that all contributions to the Trust will be exempted under the Income Tax. I thank the ministry and FM Sh. @ArunJaitley for the exemption to #BharatKeVeer Trust. (sic)”

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; September 15, 2017)

Akshay Kumar rang in his 50th birthday on September 9 with family in the scenic vistas of Switzerland. Almost a week later, celebrations continue for the actor — this time around, on a set. Yesterday, Kumar was shooting for the TV show, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge at Yash Raj Studios, Andheri. We caught up with the star in his vanity van, which was adorned with pink balloons and strewn with gifts — Fendi, Louis Vuitton, you name it.

“It’s not that I am telling everyone ‘It’s my birthday, let’s celebrate’,” he laughs before adding, “The channel and production folk have put up all this. This was their way of wishing me a belated birthday.”

Among the numerous gifts that he received for his big day, he says the best gift expectedly came from wife Twinkle. “She presented me two paintings she had commissioned – one, a portrait of me with my daughter [Nitara] and the other with my son [Aarav]. This is what I cherish the most,” he says, being true to the family man that he is.

With the new television show, Kumar returns to the small screen after three years. His last outing was the reality show Dare 2 Dance (2014). Kumar says that his choice of shows is driven by the need to explore different forms of creative expression. “When I came in the industry [ in the early ’90s], I did only action films for eight years. But, after that, I decided that I did not want to have a fixed image. I kept taking on newer projects that were distinct from each other. I have followed a similar pattern on television.”

It is this very instinct to experiment that has prompted him to come on board as a judge for the reality comedy show. Having headlined shows such as Seven Deadly Arts (2004), Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi (2008-09 and 2011) and MasterChef India (2010), Kumar thought it was time to delve into comedy. “I have great respect for comedy. I love the genre and have been part of several laugh riots, but I do not believe in cracking jokes to hurt anyone. If you do, then you should have the b*** s to poke fun at yourself.”

One can’t help but point out to him that he is treading in his wife’s territory — Khanna aka Mrs Funnybones has a way with wit and words. “When I told her I was judging stand-up comedians, she warily told me, ‘Now you are taking up this also,’” he laughs before quipping, “I told her chaar paise ghar mein aayenge.”

Meena Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 31, 2017)

Fresh off the success of his last release, the Shree Narayan Singh-directed love story Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Akshay Kumar is in a buoyant mood. And the timing couldn’t have been better, as he is inching closer to the big 50 on September 9.

Mirror has learnt that the actor-filmmaker has grand plans for his milestone birthday. He had earlier mentioned that it would be an intimate affair — a lunch or dinner date — with his immediate family, including wife Twinkle Khanna and their kids, Aarav and Nitara. Now, we have learnt that he has planned a four-day trip to the Swiss Alps.

A source close to the actor told Mirror, “On the weekend of September 9, the Kumars will make a whirlwind trip to Switzerland because Nitara has expressed a desire to see the snow and Akshay is always ready to indulge his children.” But before he embarks on the birthday trip, he will have a puja at his Mumbai home and spend some time with his mother Aruna Bhatia, sister Alka, mother-in-law Dimple Kapadia and sister-in-law Rinke Khanna-Saran. The celebrations will kick off in the first week of September in the Kumar household.

Today, on his 48th b’day, Akshay Shares anti-ageing secret
Subhash K Jha (DNA; September 9, 2015)


Akshay who turns 48 today, says he has absolutely no fear of aging. Says the actor defiantly, “If I look nearly 50 with my beard that’s because I am nearly 50. It’s my face and I’ll grow my beard how I want to. I don’t care if my salt-and-pepper beard makes me look my age. I’m proud of how I look.”

Akshay, who’s had a great year so far at the box-office with Baby, Gabbar Is Back and Brothers, asserts, “I’m not running off for secret holidays shoving needles in my face and drinking youth potions. I’m my own self, I have no vices. I don’t smoke or drink. I take care of myself. I’ve never tried to be someone I’m not.”

When I point out that he hardly looks his age Akshay shoots back, “How many 50-year-olds do you know that can do what I do at my age?”

The star’s recipe for a healthy life? “Embrace your natural growth, don’t hide from it. Why would I show you a fake version of me? If you’re a real fan, you’ll want to see me, not a product version of me squeezed out from a bottle.”

As one of the fittest actors in this country what’s Akshay’s message to his fans? “Health and fitness are the key to fulfilling any physical dream, even if it’s just to look good for your partner, or for yourself, but get up and go out there and exercise your body, no excuses.”

Upala KBR (DNA; September 8, 2015)


Twinkle was to fly down on Sunday night to bring in his birthday in London, but Akshay changed his mind at the last minute. Says a source, “The couple has always celebrated their birthdays with the children for the last few years, no matter how busy Akshay has been with film commitments. This time, the kids have school and couldn’t miss it to join him in London, so Tina was to fly alone to bring in his b’day.”

But there was a last-minute change of plans. “The parents felt terrible that their children wouldn’t be able to celebrate with them so they decided that the actor would fly down for a couple of days (Sept 8), bring in his birthday and fly back again to London. Tina will return with him and spend time with him till the shoot ends.”