Akshay Kumar, whose real name is Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia, is now one of the leading actors in Bollywood. Initially known for action films only, he later proved successful in doing comedy and other types of roles and is now acknowledged as an all-round actor. Trained in martial arts, Akshay is often found doing dare-devil acts in films and commercials. Having earlier worked as a chef in Bangkok, he took up acting in the early 1990s. His debut film Saugandh (1991), however, sank without a trace. He first tasted success with Khiladi, a thriller, in 1992.
After a relatively indifferent phase in 1993, 1994 proved to be a lucky year for Akshay. While Main Khiladi Tu Anari was a superhit, Mohra enjoyed tremendous success at the box office. His talent began to be recognized, and he was approached for doing romantic roles also. Meanwhile, his Khiladi series continued its successful march with Sabse Bada Khiladi in 1995 and Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi in 1996. He also won the Filmfare award for the best supporting actor for his guest appearance in Yash Chopra’s Dil To Pagal Hai (1997). In the same year, his Mr and Mrs Khiladi also proved to be successful. Akshay showed his talent in comedy in Hera Pheri (2000) and also excelled in a romantic role in Dhadkan the same year. He received much acclaim for his brilliant portrayal of a villainous character in Ajnabee (2001). His recent successes include a sequel to Hera Pheri titled Phir Hera Pheri in 2006 and Namastey London in 2007.
Although his name got romantically linked with some contemporary heroines, Akshay tied the nuptial knot in 2001 with Twinkle Khanna, the daughter of veteran actors Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia. They were blessed with a son named Araav born on September 15, 2002.
|
