Akshay Kumar is the only superstar in Bollywood who manages to do three to four films a year. The Khiladi’s turnover every year is at least over Rs 300 crore, considering most of his last few films have crossed the Rs 100-crore mark at the Indian box office. That is huge, given the frequency of films other superstars have.
In fact, in one of our earlier interviews, Salman Khan had applauded Akshay, saying, “We should understand that the audience and the industry need big films to sustain. We should do at least two movies every year. Akki is the only one who has managed to do that so well.” Akshay’s last release was Pad Man, which has been applauded by everyone. He has wrapped up work on 2.0 as well as Gold and is awaiting their release. The actor is currently shooting for Kesari, which hits screens next year on Holi. Then, there’s Housefull 4 that is scheduled for a Diwali 2019 release. Here, he reveals what’s in store for the audience…
Gold
‘It’s an inspirational film’
Akshay is excited about Reema Kagti’s sports drama Gold, which releases on August 15. The teaser has piqued the curiosity of movie buffs. The actor says, “It’s great to see that people are looking forward to the film. It’s an extremely special project. India had won its first gold medal in hockey after Independence in 1948, just after the British left our country. Gold is about what happened during that time and after it. It’s a brilliant story. India was going through so much — the partition happened, the British were leaving and things were breaking all around — and here, these players were getting ready to represent the country, with some of them not even knowing how to play the sport. It’s an inspirational film.”
2.0
‘I’m waiting for it to release’
Terming his role in this sci-fi flick as ‘one of the toughest roles of his career’, he elaborates, “There’s something extraordinary that (director) Shankar has managed to do with this. When you watch it, you will understand the scale on which this film has been mounted. I keep hearing about how actors don’t want to do negative parts, but for a movie like this, I would have done any role. I’m happy that Shankar thought I could play the main villain.”
Talk about the appreciation he’s received for his look and he smiles, “It’s great, it’s like our months of hard work has now paid off.” He also calls Rajinikanth one of his ‘best’ co-stars. He says, “Shooting with Rajini sir has been amazing.”
“He’s such a comfortable person to be around. I feel blessed to have been able to share screen space with him in this kind of a movie.”
2.0 was initially supposed to release last year on Diwali, but was pushed to January this year. It was further delayed by three months and was supposed to open in cinemas on April 27. However, it has been pushed further as VFX work is yet to be finished. “We have finished the shoot. Once, the makers decide on a date, we will get to know too. It’s something that even I’m waiting for,” he says.
Kesari
‘It’s a very difficult film’
Akshay is currently shooting for Dharma Productions’ Kesari. He elaborates, “It’s an ode to the brave Sikhs who fought the Battle of Saragarhi and is meant as a mark of respect to them. It’s a very difficult film because at the end of the day, it’s really hard to make a good war film. The way such movies are shot is tough as well as tiring.”
Housefull 4
‘It’s like Baahubali in comedy’
While his slate is full of social dramas, period sagas and a big sci-fi venture, there’s also a comedy of errors, Housefull 4, waiting to go on floors this June. Akshay says, “It’s like a holiday because I need one, too. I’m actually looking forward to that. After I finish Kesari, I will start work on it. I look forward to films from this franchise because they are a lot of fun to shoot. As the team comprises my friends, it becomes all the more entertaining on the sets, too. It’s almost therapeutic to shoot a mad comedy.”
He adds that unlike the earlier movies, this one will have war sequences. “It will be done in a fun way. It’s like Baahubali in comedy,” he laughs.
