I just work and entertain: Akshay

The actor says fans want over-the-top action movies.

MUMBAI:

With two of his films, Housefull 2 and Rowdy Rathore, having made it to the INR1 billion club, actor Akshay Kumar has been tagged as one of Bollywood’s most bankable actor. Though Kumar feels the pressure of success, he says once a film releases, he doesn’t dwell too much upon its box-office performance.

“Pressure comes as the film nears its release time. But after that, if it doesn’t work, I am on the next film. But I don’t take a big hit too seriously also, because the next Friday you have to go in the same circle,” he said. “And you never know what will happen the next Friday. I just take it as it comes; I just work and entertain.”

Kumar made his Bollywood debut with 1991 film Saugandh and went on to acquire the tag of Khiladi Kumar for his inclination towards action. Over the years, the actor has however shifted his focus to comedies.

“After Khiladi 420, I stopped doing action movies because I got married. I just wanted to work on comedy, romance and everything. Being a father and a husband, a man has to settle down a little bit. Now my son has grown up, so I want to go back to action,” said the actor, who is married to Bollywood actor Twinkle Khanna and has two kids — Aarav, 10 and daughter Nitara, who was born in September.



He stopped doing action films after he got married. PHOTO: FILE

With Rowdy Rathore, Kumar returned to his love for action and his new film Khiladi 786 will see him in a similar avatar once again. Directed by Ashish R Mohan, the film also features Asin Thottumkal. It releases on December 7.

“It is a great thing to return to action. It is my love. I have been in this industry because of action. I have tournaments of action. I have my own personal gyms. Action is what I am. It’s because of action that I am here,” said the 45-year-old martial arts expert.

Over the years, the genre of action has been mixed with comedy and successfully presented to the audience through hit films like Dabangg, Ready and Rowdy Rathore.

Akshay says today’s audience is eager to watch over-the-top action movies.



He stopped doing action films after he got married. PHOTO: FILE

“Audience wants this from me. They want over-the-top action movies. These are their demands and we have to try and give it to them. The films are made for everybody. Not only masses but classes also love this,” he said.

He added that now the overseas audience wants to see one actor to be a master of all trades whether it is action or comedy. The past formula of having a separate comedian alongside an actor in a film, is long gone.

“Only action doesn’t work in the overseas. But when you join it with comedy, it works. People want their actors to do comedy too. They don’t want a comedian next to the actor. They want a solo hero and want to see him do everything,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2012.

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