Posted:
Just mind your own business: Akki
Garima Sharma, TNN, Jul 19, 2010, 12.00am IST
You speak Marathi as well as Punjabi and have been staying in Mumbai for 35 years. Are you still a 'Delhiite'?
Of course. It's my hometown, where I was born, where I got everything, where I got my life, where my family comes from... Each and every road in this city has some memory for me. If we take a right turn from here (Sardar Patel Marg), there's a big ground where we used to play cricket. So, Lal Qila ho ya India Gate, there are so many memories for me. Purani Dilli ho ya Nayi Dilli, Lajpat Nagar ho ya Lajpat Rai market, they all have memories for me. I was too small when I left the city to really think about the change I was undergoing, but my most important memory is of going to Sheesh Ganj Gurudwara in Chandni Chowk.
But you don't come back anymore as Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia, but as Akshay Kumar. Is that difficult?
No. Whatever I have is because of Him. Whatever I got is from Sheesh Ganj only. I go quietly to the gurudwara. No one knows about it. I wear a cap. If you make a hue and cry about it, obviously you cannot go. I've been to the Golden Temple without anyone knowing about it. You don't have to make any noise. Keep your security along and you can manage it.
How easy is it to strike a balance between being a star and being a normal person?
It all depends on how you tackle it. There's not much difficulty, if you keep yourself grounded. There's no difficulty if you keep yourself in contact with your roots, your friends, with your old things that you own in life.
Since you've been lauded for your good comic timing, are you now inclined towards roles of this particular genre?
Comedy is difficult. It's not a natural thing. To recognise the pulse of the audience is difficult; to make make them laugh at an ordinary situation as if it were an extraordinary situation is a very very difficult task. You can make them cry, you can put glycerine in your own eyes... but to make people laugh is one hell of a job.
How do you take a break from this 'hell of a job'?
I'm quiet... I'm an introvert in my personal life. Whenever I get a break, I take my son and wife and we go trekking, rafting... we go to Disneyworld. Or, we simply go to our favourite place, Goa.
Your plans for becoming the 'Badshah' of Bollywood – as was reported when Chandni Chowk To China released – are still on?
I've never said these words. I have only said one thing – I personally consider that Mr Amitabh Bachchan is one of our biggest stars today.
Also, I have never had any gameplan. When I came into this line, I had no plans. I just landed in the industry. Then I did one film and I got a second film. I never thought that I'll get films for 20 years. Then, I never thought I'd be a producer, but I became one. Whatever comes by nature, by God's will, whatever is written in my destiny is what I will get.
Has destiny brought you here, or did you also look for a mentor?
I have my godfather, Pramod Chakravortyji. He's always there for me. Ek mentor aaj bhi bahut zaroori hai... koi na koi aisa insaan mil jaye jo ek push de... bahut zaroori hota hai... bina woh push ke, it becomes difficult. Every actor's son has their father pushing them. That push is essential, whether it's them or anyone else.
With just the right destiny and the right push, you've become very famous...
The adulation at this stage feels very good. Anybody would love to be in my shoes. But I don't want them to be, because I love being in my shoes. For a long time. They'll have to me shoot me down in the industry. It's great. I feel very thankful, very humble...
Is there any thumb rule that you've followed?
There's a saying that I've always followed. To hear it and to follow it is a big difference, but I've done so. The biggest lesson to survive in this industry is – mind your own business. That's what I've done and that's how I've survived. We are actors and exposed to public life. But even as a star, we must learn to mind our own business. That's what helps.
Garima Sharma, TNN, Jul 19, 2010, 12.00am IST
You speak Marathi as well as Punjabi and have been staying in Mumbai for 35 years. Are you still a 'Delhiite'?
Of course. It's my hometown, where I was born, where I got everything, where I got my life, where my family comes from... Each and every road in this city has some memory for me. If we take a right turn from here (Sardar Patel Marg), there's a big ground where we used to play cricket. So, Lal Qila ho ya India Gate, there are so many memories for me. Purani Dilli ho ya Nayi Dilli, Lajpat Nagar ho ya Lajpat Rai market, they all have memories for me. I was too small when I left the city to really think about the change I was undergoing, but my most important memory is of going to Sheesh Ganj Gurudwara in Chandni Chowk.
But you don't come back anymore as Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia, but as Akshay Kumar. Is that difficult?
No. Whatever I have is because of Him. Whatever I got is from Sheesh Ganj only. I go quietly to the gurudwara. No one knows about it. I wear a cap. If you make a hue and cry about it, obviously you cannot go. I've been to the Golden Temple without anyone knowing about it. You don't have to make any noise. Keep your security along and you can manage it.
How easy is it to strike a balance between being a star and being a normal person?
It all depends on how you tackle it. There's not much difficulty, if you keep yourself grounded. There's no difficulty if you keep yourself in contact with your roots, your friends, with your old things that you own in life.
Since you've been lauded for your good comic timing, are you now inclined towards roles of this particular genre?
Comedy is difficult. It's not a natural thing. To recognise the pulse of the audience is difficult; to make make them laugh at an ordinary situation as if it were an extraordinary situation is a very very difficult task. You can make them cry, you can put glycerine in your own eyes... but to make people laugh is one hell of a job.
How do you take a break from this 'hell of a job'?
I'm quiet... I'm an introvert in my personal life. Whenever I get a break, I take my son and wife and we go trekking, rafting... we go to Disneyworld. Or, we simply go to our favourite place, Goa.
Your plans for becoming the 'Badshah' of Bollywood – as was reported when Chandni Chowk To China released – are still on?
I've never said these words. I have only said one thing – I personally consider that Mr Amitabh Bachchan is one of our biggest stars today.
Also, I have never had any gameplan. When I came into this line, I had no plans. I just landed in the industry. Then I did one film and I got a second film. I never thought that I'll get films for 20 years. Then, I never thought I'd be a producer, but I became one. Whatever comes by nature, by God's will, whatever is written in my destiny is what I will get.
Has destiny brought you here, or did you also look for a mentor?
I have my godfather, Pramod Chakravortyji. He's always there for me. Ek mentor aaj bhi bahut zaroori hai... koi na koi aisa insaan mil jaye jo ek push de... bahut zaroori hota hai... bina woh push ke, it becomes difficult. Every actor's son has their father pushing them. That push is essential, whether it's them or anyone else.
With just the right destiny and the right push, you've become very famous...
The adulation at this stage feels very good. Anybody would love to be in my shoes. But I don't want them to be, because I love being in my shoes. For a long time. They'll have to me shoot me down in the industry. It's great. I feel very thankful, very humble...
Is there any thumb rule that you've followed?
There's a saying that I've always followed. To hear it and to follow it is a big difference, but I've done so. The biggest lesson to survive in this industry is – mind your own business. That's what I've done and that's how I've survived. We are actors and exposed to public life. But even as a star, we must learn to mind our own business. That's what helps.
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