Akshay Kumar is known to be a trendsetter. He was one of the first superstars, who decided to back the movies he was starring in. He also showed that he could adapt to any genre and have a successful run at the box office. No wonder, the Kesari actor is the first among B-Town’s megastars to set foot into the online streaming arena. On Tuesday, he literally walked on the stage while being ablaze. This was how he chose to announce his association with Amazon Prime Video new show. While details about the series, The End (working title), are strictly under wraps, it’s obvious that it will have the Khiladi Kumar pulling off all sorts of mind-boggling stunts.
While those present at the venue were busy clapping and cheering, Akshay’s wife, Twinkle Khanna, was unaware about her husband’s feat. It was when the former shared a few pictures on his social media handle that the latter got to know about it. She tweeted, “Crap! This is how I find out that you decided to set yourself on fire! Come home and I am going to kill you—in case you do survive this! #GodHelpMe (sic).” Worrying about his wife’s warning, he wrote back, “Now that’s something I’d actually be afraid of.” What she might not know even now is that he set himself on fire not once but twice. Of course, all precautionary measures were in place and the actor has many years of experience in carrying out the scariest of stunts.
While some of Akshay’s contemporaries are either producing web shows or contemplating to do so, he is the first Bollywood superstar to act in one. He said, “I have always believed in bringing innovation to my work and throughout my career, I have tried to tell unique stories, work with breakthrough talent and be part of disruptive and high-quality storytelling.”
This step seems perfectly in sync with the changing viewing pattern across the globe. Besides tapping into audiences across the world, this would be the best way to connect with younger viewers. “The digital world excited me, and I am delighted to make my streaming debut with this show. And if I were to make a small confession here, it was my son Aarav, who suggested that I do so, as that’s what the youth is hooked onto. On this medium, I want to create something extraordinary and connect with them,” the actor-producer added.