From standing outside Rajesh Khanna’s Aashirwad bungalow dreaming of being a superstar to eventually marrying his daughter, Akshay Kumar’s story is no less filmi than the ones he enacts on screen. But Bollywood’s original khiladi underplays the hardships he faced and says he’ll never allow anyone to pen his biography. Excerpts from a freewheeling chat with the superstar:
Q What took you so long to work with Karan Johar, even though he’s your wife’s (Twinkle Khanna) best friend?
Yes, they (Karan and Twinkle) are very good friends but that doesn’t mean he should be taking me in his films. It is always about what role works and this role in Brothers suited me, so I did it. It is not like there was a personal vendetta or some fight between us.
Q What do you have to say about actors who take shortcuts while trying to build a physique?
There is nothing like a shortcut but somewhere down the line it does take a toll on your body and your health. It is important to take care of yourself no matter what you do. A lot of actors have become products of products. You should only be a product of your parents, not a product of a product.
Q The Aashirwad bungalow, (which belonged to the late Rajesh Khanna) has been sold and is going to be demolished. Any memories of that place you’d like to share?
I have been there a couple of times to meet my father-in-law (Rajesh Khanna) when he was alive. I have great memories with him. But my favourite memory is from a time when I had still not become an actor. I used to stand outside his bungalow with my parents, waiting to have a glimpse of the great Rajesh Khanna. I never thought that there would come a day when we would be sitting inside the bungalow, sipping tea with him or sharing meals with him and getting married to his daughter (Twinkle). That was a dream come true.
Q Twinkle has made quite a name for herself as a writer. Do you think she’d make the perfect writer for your biography?
No, she wouldn’t write it, and also and I wouldn’t want to have my biography written at all.
Q Why?
You must be a legend to have a biography. Just because I have completed 25 years in the industry, doesn’t mean that I need to have a biography. I would say Mr Bachchan is a legend, you have to be someone like him. I would not even think of a biography on me.
