Akshay Kumar: The Hit Machine

The need to ‘self-disrupt’ and a keen sense of discipline and professionalism have kept Akshay Kumar at the top of his game even after 25 years in the movies. And it’s getting better.

- Sourav Majumdar

It’s around 6.45 am and there’s a slight nip in the Mumbai air as the sun rises gently on the horizon and early morning runners on Juhu beach get on with their paces. Emerging from the ground floor of Prime Beach, the apartment complex overlooking the beach front, Akshay Kumar greets us with a warm handshake and his trademark smile.

Kumar has had a swim and is looking fresh and sharp, sporting a salt-and-pepper moustache, a Super dry sweatshirt and a GAP cap. He takes a quick look at his Mercedes GL350 SUV and decides he’s going to drive it himself to Kamal Amrohi Studio in Jogeshwari, where he is wrapping up the shoot of his forthcoming film Jolly LLB 2. His fitness trainer Jennifer, who also trains his 14-year-old son Aarav, is around too. Aarav even comes up and gives her a hug to see her off as she leaves in another car.

Kumar gets into the driver’s seat and we’re off to the studio. At that time of the morning, traffic is expected to be light, but Kumar takes care to drive slowly, ensuring we have enough time for our conversation.

This typifies the concern for those he deals with, an attribute ingrained in Kumar, 49, who has completed 25 years in the hugely competitive, and often fickle, world of Hindi cinema. Kumar rules the box office even after a quarter of a century, and is known as one of the most bankable stars in the business, along with the three Khans —Salman, Shah Rukh and Aamir.

A self-confessed producer’s actor, Kumar is clear that the producer, who takes the risk with a film, is the one who he needs to take care of as the lead actor. “In this industry, it’s not about how good an actor you are. It’s all about how good you are to your producer,” explains Kumar. “In my nearly 26 years in this business, I have learnt this. It’s how well you protect your producer that matters.”