It has been 30 years since Akshay Kumar entered Bollywood, and he has gone through many highs and lows in his career so far. "The challenge lies in maintaining yourself. Maintaining yourself in the industry is a big challenge. You will not believe that entering the film industry is still easier, but to maintain yourself in the industry and to keep up and cope up with everything going on, and be there in the industry, is a very difficult job," Akshay told IANS, reflecting on his journey. Also Read - Bachchan Pandey: Rakta Charitra actor fame Abhimanyu Singh roped in as main villain in the Akshay Kumar-Kriti Sanon starrer
Over the years, Akshay has held on to the advice his father once gave him, as he surged ahead in his career. Also Read - Republic Day 2021: Raazi, Swades, Airlift, Naya Daur – 8 Bollywood films that presented patriotism with subtlety
"I follow what my father taught me -- keep working hard. Kal ki chinta na karo, aapne aap sab kuch theek hona shuru ho jayega (Stop worrying about the future, everything will get sorted out)," he shared. Also Read - Sooryavanshi: Rohit Shetty's highly anticipated Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif starrer postponed again; won't release before THIS month? [Exclusive]
The 53-year-old actor continued, "A lot of times, I have seen how the movie that I know is not good works. On the other hand there are times when I know the film is good, and yet it doesn't work. God has his own way of working and rewarding you. Jahaan dena hai wahaan kabhi kabhi nahi deta aur jahaan nahi dena wahaan de deta hai."
Akshay walked into the industry with Saugandh in 1991, but it was the action-packed thrills and punches of Khiladi (1992) that gave him the ticket to mainstream entertainment. There was a time when Bollywood's Khiladi Kumar got stuck in the action hero image, but he soon managed to break away from the stereotype with punches of another kind – comedy. At that time, he also explored rom-com space.
He went on to feature in comedy hits such as Hera Pheri, Garam Masala, Bhagam Bhag, Heyy Babyy, Welcome, Singh Is Kinng and Housefull. There were many misses, too, in the genre, like Tees Maar Khan, Thank You and Joker.
Today, Akshay has developed a reputation of backing stories that have hues of patriotism and nationalism, besides films with socially-relevant content.
"I do films that are responsible and also the films that are commercial. I am not a teacher," Akshay said, on his way of picking projects.
"I do films I like, and the messages I like. Sometimes there is a message, and sometimes there is no message. I do different types of films and I want to continue doing them in the future," he continued.
"I don't want to be a teacher," the superstar asserted, adding: "I get associated with the message I believe in. I made a film on sanitary pads, and did one on the importance of toilets. (I) Also made one on science. I have made different types of films."
"There is also Housefull, which has no message, and where the message is just to laugh," added the actor, who was last seen in Laxmii, which was released on OTT.
(With inputs from IANS)
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