Posted:
He's known to go mushy over his
daughter Nitara (born on
September 25) whom he has
named Nitara Khanna Bhatia in
loving memory of his exalted
father-in-law, Rajesh Khanna. He
beams at the mention of Nitara. I
want to know whom she
resembles, Twinkle or him but he
shrugs that off saying she's too
young for such comparisons. A
new baby usually alters the
parents' schedule, but Akshay's
routine is unaffected. "I've
always worked only for eight
hours a day. I sleep for eight
hours and spend the rest of the
day at home. I spend a lot of time
with Nitara."
Her birth has lifted the pall of
grief over the Khanna-Bhatia
family after the demise of Rajesh
Khanna. Akshay has fond
memories of the icon whom he
had grown up idolising. He says
Khanna's memories will never
fade away. "He lives in our
hearts, our minds. You only
remember those you forget. He
was India's first superstar.
Throughout the day, we see him
somewhere or the other. Turn on
the TV, and you'll see his songs
or his movies on some channel
or the other. We've put up a large
portrait of him at home."
His father-in-law was like a friend
to him. And one trait that he
hugely liked in the star was that
he treated life like a party and
didn't need a reason to
celebrate. "Someone told me,
'Bhaiya, I guess you won't be
celebrating Diwali this year as
your father-in-law has passed
away.'
I replied, 'We will definitely
celebrate Diwali. My father-in-
law's entire life was one big
celebration. He celebrated the
smallest of things. He'd party for
a friend's birthday; he'd party for
any good thing that may have
happened during the day.
Something good would happen
every day, so he partied every
day! So, yes we did celebrate
Diwali in his memory."
Incidentally, after Rajesh
Khanna's demise, his bungalow
Aashirwad was renamed
Vardaan Aashirwad. Akshay cuts
off the conspiracy theories with
a curt, "Because my mother-in-
law (Dimple Kapadia) wished so,"
and tells me to move on to the
next question. Any attempt to
question him on the recent
development when Rajesh
Khanna's live-in companion Anita
Advani filed a legal suit is met
with a stony glance from Akshay.
Time to change the topic then,
I'm curious to know as to why
he's returned to the Khiladi tag
after donkey's years. Last month,
the eighth film in the Khiladi
series, Khiladi 786, directed by
Ashish R Mohan was released.
The curiouser fact is that Akshay
made the film in partnership
with nasal wonder Himesh
Reshammiya. He doesn't see
anything unusual in the
relationship and says it was
based on mutual trust and
admiration. "The greatest
ingredient in every Khiladi movie
is fun. It must entertain and have
great action and music. Himesh
came up with some zany tunes
which were well received. He
even suggested this title for the
film, which symbolises a man
blessed by God and I agreed."
It may be recalled that the Khiladi
blitzkrieg began with Khiladi in
1992 and was followed by Main
Khiladi Tu Anari, Sabse Bada
Khiladi, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, Mr
And Mrs Khiladi, International
Khiladi and Khiladi 420. Akshay
had never fathomed that one day
the Khiladi franchise would be
his. "When you're at the
beginning of your career, how
can you predict the future
course? Even your father can't
foretell it! What's more, even a
pandit (astrologer) can't foresee
what's going to happen in his life
two years down the line," smiles
Akshay.
It's suprising that Akshay's still
glued to the action genre and
doesn't get tired of pulling
punches after all this while. He
reminds me that he did take a
breather for some years after
son Aarav was born. "I did the
maximum number of action
movies by 2000. In 2001, I got
married (to Twinkle Khanna) and
in 2002 my son Aarav was born.
I took a sabbatical from action
and focussed on comedy,
emotions and drama and
stopped performing risk-
involving stunts." He's returned
to action with Rowdy Rathore
this year. It's been a comeback
year of sorts for the stars in
more ways than one. He's given
back-to-back hits like Housefull 2,
Rowdy Rathore and Oh My God!
and cemented a place in the 100
crore walk of fame. Akshay says
he remains unperturbed by the
expectation of turning every film
into a 100 crore blockbuster. "I
just do my job. I am under no
such pressure or tension. I had
come here with just five
thousand in my pocket," he
waxes philosophical. "But yes, I
am under pressure to reach the
sets on time, to finish my work
on time. I make sure that my
producer isn't under any duress.
I am a producer's actor, a
director's actor. Where success
or failure is concerned, it all
depends on the audience."
Another remarkable thing is that
Akshay has steered clear of
camps and controversies. "I don't
live in a camp. I live in a home,"
he jests adding, "The most
important factor for success is
hard work. Also, seek your
parents' blessings, God's
blessings and move ahead. There
is nothing bigger than that in the
world." When quizzed whether
relationships in the industry are
really as fake as shown in films
like Luck By Chance and Page 3
and more recently Heroine,
Akshay turns defensive about the
film fraternity, "Some
relationships are sincere just as
there are fake ones too, though
the latter abound. Forget
showbiz; take builders, doctors
or people in any other
profession, there are genuine
and pretentious relationships
everywhere. It's wrong to point
fingers only at the industry."
The talk veers back to
parenthood and Akshay tells me
about the bond he shared his
dad, Hari Om Bhatia. "I enjoyed
watching films with my dad. I've
grown up watching commercial
cinema - Dharmatma, Sholay,
Naseeb, Amar Akbar Anthony..."
This explains his penchant for
masala fare. He says he makes it
a point to watch every
commercial release. "Whether it's
a Yash Chopra or a Kanti Shah
film, I make it a point to watch it
in theatres. The audiences' live
reactions tell you what they enjoy
and what they don't. I have a
show booked on Friday or
Saturday evening." He cattily says
he doesn't like attending
premieres. One reason is that he
doesn't like late nights. The other
he says is because, "People just
sit there, all dressed up, without
giving genuine reactions. No one
laughs or cry at such affairs. This
is unfair to the film."
The next shot is ready and
Akshay is called to do what he
does best— bash up the baddies.
I watch the action for a while
before taking my leave. Because,
as he says, I'd rather watch him
dishing it out to the goons in
upcoming films Special
Chhabbees, Once Upon A Time In
Mumbaai Again and Boss in the
comfort of the theatres with a
special pack of gur and chana for
company. That's certainly comfort
food for thought.
daughter Nitara (born on
September 25) whom he has
named Nitara Khanna Bhatia in
loving memory of his exalted
father-in-law, Rajesh Khanna. He
beams at the mention of Nitara. I
want to know whom she
resembles, Twinkle or him but he
shrugs that off saying she's too
young for such comparisons. A
new baby usually alters the
parents' schedule, but Akshay's
routine is unaffected. "I've
always worked only for eight
hours a day. I sleep for eight
hours and spend the rest of the
day at home. I spend a lot of time
with Nitara."
Her birth has lifted the pall of
grief over the Khanna-Bhatia
family after the demise of Rajesh
Khanna. Akshay has fond
memories of the icon whom he
had grown up idolising. He says
Khanna's memories will never
fade away. "He lives in our
hearts, our minds. You only
remember those you forget. He
was India's first superstar.
Throughout the day, we see him
somewhere or the other. Turn on
the TV, and you'll see his songs
or his movies on some channel
or the other. We've put up a large
portrait of him at home."
His father-in-law was like a friend
to him. And one trait that he
hugely liked in the star was that
he treated life like a party and
didn't need a reason to
celebrate. "Someone told me,
'Bhaiya, I guess you won't be
celebrating Diwali this year as
your father-in-law has passed
away.'
I replied, 'We will definitely
celebrate Diwali. My father-in-
law's entire life was one big
celebration. He celebrated the
smallest of things. He'd party for
a friend's birthday; he'd party for
any good thing that may have
happened during the day.
Something good would happen
every day, so he partied every
day! So, yes we did celebrate
Diwali in his memory."
Incidentally, after Rajesh
Khanna's demise, his bungalow
Aashirwad was renamed
Vardaan Aashirwad. Akshay cuts
off the conspiracy theories with
a curt, "Because my mother-in-
law (Dimple Kapadia) wished so,"
and tells me to move on to the
next question. Any attempt to
question him on the recent
development when Rajesh
Khanna's live-in companion Anita
Advani filed a legal suit is met
with a stony glance from Akshay.
Time to change the topic then,
I'm curious to know as to why
he's returned to the Khiladi tag
after donkey's years. Last month,
the eighth film in the Khiladi
series, Khiladi 786, directed by
Ashish R Mohan was released.
The curiouser fact is that Akshay
made the film in partnership
with nasal wonder Himesh
Reshammiya. He doesn't see
anything unusual in the
relationship and says it was
based on mutual trust and
admiration. "The greatest
ingredient in every Khiladi movie
is fun. It must entertain and have
great action and music. Himesh
came up with some zany tunes
which were well received. He
even suggested this title for the
film, which symbolises a man
blessed by God and I agreed."
It may be recalled that the Khiladi
blitzkrieg began with Khiladi in
1992 and was followed by Main
Khiladi Tu Anari, Sabse Bada
Khiladi, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, Mr
And Mrs Khiladi, International
Khiladi and Khiladi 420. Akshay
had never fathomed that one day
the Khiladi franchise would be
his. "When you're at the
beginning of your career, how
can you predict the future
course? Even your father can't
foretell it! What's more, even a
pandit (astrologer) can't foresee
what's going to happen in his life
two years down the line," smiles
Akshay.
It's suprising that Akshay's still
glued to the action genre and
doesn't get tired of pulling
punches after all this while. He
reminds me that he did take a
breather for some years after
son Aarav was born. "I did the
maximum number of action
movies by 2000. In 2001, I got
married (to Twinkle Khanna) and
in 2002 my son Aarav was born.
I took a sabbatical from action
and focussed on comedy,
emotions and drama and
stopped performing risk-
involving stunts." He's returned
to action with Rowdy Rathore
this year. It's been a comeback
year of sorts for the stars in
more ways than one. He's given
back-to-back hits like Housefull 2,
Rowdy Rathore and Oh My God!
and cemented a place in the 100
crore walk of fame. Akshay says
he remains unperturbed by the
expectation of turning every film
into a 100 crore blockbuster. "I
just do my job. I am under no
such pressure or tension. I had
come here with just five
thousand in my pocket," he
waxes philosophical. "But yes, I
am under pressure to reach the
sets on time, to finish my work
on time. I make sure that my
producer isn't under any duress.
I am a producer's actor, a
director's actor. Where success
or failure is concerned, it all
depends on the audience."
Another remarkable thing is that
Akshay has steered clear of
camps and controversies. "I don't
live in a camp. I live in a home,"
he jests adding, "The most
important factor for success is
hard work. Also, seek your
parents' blessings, God's
blessings and move ahead. There
is nothing bigger than that in the
world." When quizzed whether
relationships in the industry are
really as fake as shown in films
like Luck By Chance and Page 3
and more recently Heroine,
Akshay turns defensive about the
film fraternity, "Some
relationships are sincere just as
there are fake ones too, though
the latter abound. Forget
showbiz; take builders, doctors
or people in any other
profession, there are genuine
and pretentious relationships
everywhere. It's wrong to point
fingers only at the industry."
The talk veers back to
parenthood and Akshay tells me
about the bond he shared his
dad, Hari Om Bhatia. "I enjoyed
watching films with my dad. I've
grown up watching commercial
cinema - Dharmatma, Sholay,
Naseeb, Amar Akbar Anthony..."
This explains his penchant for
masala fare. He says he makes it
a point to watch every
commercial release. "Whether it's
a Yash Chopra or a Kanti Shah
film, I make it a point to watch it
in theatres. The audiences' live
reactions tell you what they enjoy
and what they don't. I have a
show booked on Friday or
Saturday evening." He cattily says
he doesn't like attending
premieres. One reason is that he
doesn't like late nights. The other
he says is because, "People just
sit there, all dressed up, without
giving genuine reactions. No one
laughs or cry at such affairs. This
is unfair to the film."
The next shot is ready and
Akshay is called to do what he
does best— bash up the baddies.
I watch the action for a while
before taking my leave. Because,
as he says, I'd rather watch him
dishing it out to the goons in
upcoming films Special
Chhabbees, Once Upon A Time In
Mumbaai Again and Boss in the
comfort of the theatres with a
special pack of gur and chana for
company. That's certainly comfort
food for thought.
Ufff Yeh Love Hai Mushkil
Current Affairs
5