(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Prior to the release of holiday: a soldier is never off duty akshay kumar tells us why he will continue to make action films ?as long as his body can handle it?.
bollywood’s very own ‘jackie chan’ akshay kumar has truly come a long way since his breakthrough performance in the 1991 film saugandh. while still renowned for his early action films like khiladi and mohra the former model and martial arts expert has attempted to break away from that image more than once tasting box office success with comedies like hera pheri garam masala and housefull as well as romantic films like dhadkan yeh dillagi and a small but memorable appearance in the shah rukh khan-madhuri dixit fantasy love story dil to pagal hai.
in person akshay is at his animated best while discussing his action films as city times witnessed on his last visit to our offices to promote boss a remake of malayalam film pokkiri raja which unfortunately failed to replicate its predecessor’s stupendous success at the box office.
the actor is no doubt hoping that his latest project the thriller holiday: a soldier is never off duty will fare better. in the film akshay takes on the role of an army intelligence officer virat bakshi who is on vacation in his home city of mumbai when he gets caught up in a gruesome terror attack that sees a crowded bus blown to pieces. sonakshi sinha adds a romantic element to the film.
the actor took some time out from his busy schedule to talk films martial arts and life with city times.
you are playing an army officer in holiday: a soldier is never off duty. did you have to do any particular research for your role?
definitely – the whole premise of the film is something completely unprecedented in indian cinema and touches upon reality and the very issues we face today. the film is based on ‘sleeper cells’ which have plagued several nations and caused heinous terrorist crimes yet very few people are aware of this kind of terrorism. i work as a dia a defense intelligent agent for the indian army and i come across a deadly terrorist plot to attack mumbai. for a role as specialised as this i had to train both physically and mentally; i learned how to hold and load a gun something i was shocked at how bad us heroes are at despite using weapons in our films for years. greg powell my stunt director from england took me aside and taught me how to really get a physical grip on my character. i learned a lot about the whole notion of ‘sleeper cells’ and the implications of their work. i cannot express how fascinated i became as well as very worried that these activities go on under our very noses...
do you believe in the title of your film as far as real life is concerned? is a soldier never off duty?
i do agree – in the sense that one can very rarely find time to be off duty in their life. whether it be acting running a business being a father you can never take for granted that while your feet are up someone else will take care of it for you. our soldiers are incredible in that sense; even when they come home they are still serving our country i think this film will help people realise just how lucky they are.
sonakshi has been paired opposite you in many films. how important is getting along with your co-stars and what qualities of sonakshi do you admire most?
i have a great working relationship with sonakshi. what i admire the most is her ability to make all those around her feel comfortable and positive; she is one of the most respectful yet enjoyable co-stars i have ever come across no one is too small for her to say hello to and her sporting character in general makes her very easy to get along with. she has a very fruitful career ahead of her and deserves the love her fans give her.
action films are your forte. are there any other action films in the pipeline in the future?
i will always have action films in the pipeline for as long as my body can handle it! i don’t think i’ll ever stop wanting to do stunts it’s what has kept me so young at heart all these years. my next will be neeraj pandey’s film baby which will release early next year but right now i’m focusing on holiday’s release and teaching people about how different the action is in this film as i have learnt a new style of fighting from greg (stunt director) who has taught me things i wish i had learned 20 years ago!
you were recently in the news for stressing the importance of teaching martial arts in schools. why do you feel so strongly about this?
i have always believed in equality for women women having the same opportunities strength and capabilities as men and the power to achieve everything and anything they want to. on what motivated me to start up this initiative; self-defence for women in india has been a major concern lately and not only has it gained immense media attention in india for all the wrong reasons but also internationally. the thought that a man can think he can overpower a woman whenever he wants to and take advantage of her when she is defenceless is wrong. for things like this i want to use the greatest gift and asset i have with me for the greater good – martial arts. with the support of young leader aditya thackeray we commenced the procedure of starting free of cost self-defence classes for as many women as we can to counter offence this menace. it will be the greatest thing i ever do in life if i can give women the chance to defend themselves in this evil world.
you have been a part of bollywood for over two decades. who has been your biggest inspiration throughout?
i wouldn’t say i have just one inspiration. inspiration has come to me throughout my time in the industry from my wife and children the people i have met along the way my friends the fans and the audience. i adapt to my inspirations. one of the best feelings is to feel inspired by something or someone new and be able to take that run with it and see how much happiness and success you can produce from it.
is it difficult to juggle family life with your professional commitments? what is the secret to striking a balance?
at times it can be challenging but having been in the industry for over two decades i’ve learned to strike a balance. bollywood has shaped the person i am today; however family is forever and so it is one of my highest priorities to make sure i have time to spend with them. it’s all about priorities i make my wife and kids my biggest priority and they know it. i have very few friends for this reason i have no vices again for this reason. i do not want anything coming in the way of me spending time with them and to be honest it has made me a better man. my life is work and family time; i’m this healthy and happy because of it.
actresses have a shorter shelf life than actors - who continue to get good roles despite getting older. what are your thoughts on this? do you feel actresses who were popular in the 80’s and 90’s should be getting more chances to showcase their talent?
whilst age might change the way people look for both men and women talent never dies. i believe actresses should be able to have the same opportunities throughout their careers if the role fits. talent is eternal and as an actor i can honestly say that we learn more in this profession as we get older.
name a favourite film from your career and why you enjoyed making it.
this question is impossible to answer! there is absolutely no way i could choose one film as a favourite over the other. each filming experience has been memorable from the plot to the cast to being able to enjoy the product. that and the fact that i wouldn’t want to favour or offend anyone as that is my nature.
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