For the past two decades, this metrosexual, uber cool star has been consistently giving at least one hit a year in Bollywood. Ahead of his second visit to Nagpur today, Akshay Kumar exclusively speaks to NT about playing a Maharashrian in his forthcoming film Khatta Meetha, his fitness regime and more...
So, how's life been for Akshay till now - Khatti or Meethi?
Life is a combo of Khatta-Meetha; even you must have experienced the life that ways. To me, on the career front, life has been Khatti-Meethi, as there have been many ups and downs; but, I have no complaints with my personal life. It's been just fantastic; and rather on a sweeter side.
This is your second visit to Nagpur...
Yeah, when I had come earlier, it was quite hot. This time I feel lucky to be in the city during monsoons. The only worry is that it's not an orange season; so, I won't be able to enjoy world-famous Nagpur oranges. But, I'll try and catch up with my friends in Nagpur.
From Mr and Mrs Khiladi to Housefull, audiences have been relishing your typical Dilliwala, North Indian dialect. With Sachin Tichkule, the hero of your film being a Maharashtrian, did you have to work in specific arenas for the role?
Not exactly, as I have been staying in Maharashtra for many years, I speak Marathi very fluently and have lots of Maharashtrian friends. So, all those nuances came easy to me.
Any specific real life character you have followed to prepare for Sachin Tichkule?
Yeah, Tichkules were my neighbours when I used to stay in Bandra East earlier. I've been exposed to people like Sachin, who wear Ray Ban ka chashma, haath mein chhata, bagal mein files etc. Whether it's Namastey London or Singh is Kinng , almost all the characters that you've seen in my films, have been inspired by real individuals; of course, unless there's a larger-than-life character that doesn't exist, like the one I played in Blue. So, for Sachin as well, I have indeed followed a real life character.
As you come from Delhi and have been staying in Maharashtra for many years, do you believe the claim of many that there's a difference between the Marathi and North Indian aam aadmi?
A common man is a common man; I don't see any difference between the Marathi aam aadmi and the north Indian one. Even R K Laxman's common man in his cartoons may look like a Maharashtrian, but readers across India can easily identify with him. We have the same heart and our thinking patterns are the same. Whether it's Mumbai or Delhi, carrying an umbrella and keeping it against the wall is a common phenomenon. Farmers in Nagpur must be as fascinated with bikes as their counterparts in Ludhiana.
Your style quotient hasn’t been explored well in the film. Isn't it a big risk?
It's all about identification. I appreciate the fact that Priyadarshan has followed a single style in the film.
In these two decades of your career, many stars joined the B'town fray, but Akshay Kumar has been unaffected, and is the rock-solid parallel pillar of the industry...
In Bollywood, about 165 movies are released every year; so, there's enough work for everybody. The number game is all crap. It all changes every Friday. I believe in working harder and being more focused towards my work, rather than following others' Fridays.
Your fitness levels have always been high; doesn't it become boring to have all that discipline in life?
I don't follow my regime madly. At times, when I feel like gorging on my fave food, I break the mould. It's just that we have to be particular, not obsessed, about our health. I think it's good to jolt your system once in a while.
In this era of six-packs, many stars have experimented a lot with their bodies for different roles. There have been reports of such drastic changes taking a toll on their health...
If you go steady; there can be no toll on your health. There're no shortcuts to fitness. I don't believe in taking any kind of steroids or medicines etc. I've a six-pack and it's not that easy to earn. I wish to communicate it to all the youngsters out there that there's only one way to achieve it, and that is to work hard. No pain, no gain!
Usually, it's seen that star kids are fonder of other stars than their respective fathers. Who's your son Aarav's fave star?
Tom and Jerry. At the moment, Aarav's addicted to cartoons, not Bollywood.
Life is a combo of Khatta-Meetha; even you must have experienced the life that ways. To me, on the career front, life has been Khatti-Meethi, as there have been many ups and downs; but, I have no complaints with my personal life. It's been just fantastic; and rather on a sweeter side.
This is your second visit to Nagpur...
Yeah, when I had come earlier, it was quite hot. This time I feel lucky to be in the city during monsoons. The only worry is that it's not an orange season; so, I won't be able to enjoy world-famous Nagpur oranges. But, I'll try and catch up with my friends in Nagpur.
From Mr and Mrs Khiladi to Housefull, audiences have been relishing your typical Dilliwala, North Indian dialect. With Sachin Tichkule, the hero of your film being a Maharashtrian, did you have to work in specific arenas for the role?
Not exactly, as I have been staying in Maharashtra for many years, I speak Marathi very fluently and have lots of Maharashtrian friends. So, all those nuances came easy to me.
Any specific real life character you have followed to prepare for Sachin Tichkule?
Yeah, Tichkules were my neighbours when I used to stay in Bandra East earlier. I've been exposed to people like Sachin, who wear Ray Ban ka chashma, haath mein chhata, bagal mein files etc. Whether it's Namastey London or Singh is Kinng , almost all the characters that you've seen in my films, have been inspired by real individuals; of course, unless there's a larger-than-life character that doesn't exist, like the one I played in Blue. So, for Sachin as well, I have indeed followed a real life character.
As you come from Delhi and have been staying in Maharashtra for many years, do you believe the claim of many that there's a difference between the Marathi and North Indian aam aadmi?
A common man is a common man; I don't see any difference between the Marathi aam aadmi and the north Indian one. Even R K Laxman's common man in his cartoons may look like a Maharashtrian, but readers across India can easily identify with him. We have the same heart and our thinking patterns are the same. Whether it's Mumbai or Delhi, carrying an umbrella and keeping it against the wall is a common phenomenon. Farmers in Nagpur must be as fascinated with bikes as their counterparts in Ludhiana.
Your style quotient hasn’t been explored well in the film. Isn't it a big risk?
It's all about identification. I appreciate the fact that Priyadarshan has followed a single style in the film.
In these two decades of your career, many stars joined the B'town fray, but Akshay Kumar has been unaffected, and is the rock-solid parallel pillar of the industry...
In Bollywood, about 165 movies are released every year; so, there's enough work for everybody. The number game is all crap. It all changes every Friday. I believe in working harder and being more focused towards my work, rather than following others' Fridays.
Your fitness levels have always been high; doesn't it become boring to have all that discipline in life?
I don't follow my regime madly. At times, when I feel like gorging on my fave food, I break the mould. It's just that we have to be particular, not obsessed, about our health. I think it's good to jolt your system once in a while.
In this era of six-packs, many stars have experimented a lot with their bodies for different roles. There have been reports of such drastic changes taking a toll on their health...
If you go steady; there can be no toll on your health. There're no shortcuts to fitness. I don't believe in taking any kind of steroids or medicines etc. I've a six-pack and it's not that easy to earn. I wish to communicate it to all the youngsters out there that there's only one way to achieve it, and that is to work hard. No pain, no gain!
Usually, it's seen that star kids are fonder of other stars than their respective fathers. Who's your son Aarav's fave star?
Tom and Jerry. At the moment, Aarav's addicted to cartoons, not Bollywood.
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