From being an action hero to doing comedies, Akshay tried different things and in his upcoming film 'Desi Boyz' he will be seen stripping and doing pole dancing. And what he liked about his character, Jerry Patel, is that it was a different role. "I had a lot of fun while doing this movie. First of all I haven't played this kind of character ever. When the role was narrated to me, I knew this was something I wanted to do. And, secondly, its director Rohit Dhawan told me the film is based on the real-life incident of two people who had to take extreme paths to survive during recession," he said.
Before becoming an actor, Akshay used to live in Chandni Chowk, but even after shifting to Mumbai years ago he still goes to stay at his Chandni Chowk house every few months. “I come quietly and stay a night there and leave in the morning. Aaram se aata hoon, Chandni Chowk ki galiyon mein chala jaata hoon and then I stay there. I have a one bedroom flat there. That's where I came from, that's the place I belong to. I wear a cap to cover up and nobody comes to know."
Tell him that this sounds thoda unbelievable, and the actor quips, "Agar aap Chandni Chowk mein suit pehen ke nikloge, then toh it'll never be possible. But if you do it quietly, bheed mein bhi pata nahi chalta. In Mumbai too I go to watch movies with my family at the theatres. Just before the movie is about to start, my wife, my son and I quietly slip into the hall. I have to watch every movie in a theatre. Exactly three minutes before the movie is about to end, I leave. So, I always have to ask others about the climax – villain mara ki nahi?"
Even though he prefers to behave like a 'common man', Akshay says that doesn't mean that he dislikes the luxury that his position can bring to him. He says, "I also enjoy my private jets and my royal presidential suites, and at the same time I enjoy Chandni Chowk, my walks on Juhu Beach in the morning as well as going to the mall. Mera mahina ka kharcha `5000 hoga – that's the money I spend on myself. I don't have any kind of want for something."
Ask him who is his favourite heroine among the present generation of actors and his does not take a diplomatic route “In the newer lot, I would say Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma and Sonakshi Sinha. Their approach to films is very professional. They work with dialogues, and are constantly changing the way of acting. It’s becoming more natural. I feel Anushka has a good career ahead and even Sonakshi—these are the two girls I’ll bet my money on.”
Akshay is the rare star who has five releases every year “I do not work much but my films get finished in time because I report to set on time and leave at the designated hour. On Saturdays, I work from 7 am to 2 pm, after which I spend time the way I want to. I always take an off on Sunday. Every year in June, I take a family vacation because that's when my son has holidays.”
After two decades of stardom how integral is his personal life tohis success “Tina (Twinkle) is my greatest success! You can take away my films, my awards, my career, and I would survive, but I couldn't live a day without my wife and son. Tina has made me a home; one I can run to any minute. I want to share the rest of my life with her.” |
