Akshay Kumar, aka Khiladi Kumar, truly makes everyone believe that ‘Age is just a number’. He still looks fit and good to do action movies like any another young actor. Add to that, his alacritous style of working, which separates him from the rest, as he is still the only actor to have 3-4 releases in a year on an average. Akshay is currently basking in the glory of his latest release, Housefull 4, which has minted a lot of riches already at the box office. And he’s now gearing up for his next ‘Good Newwz’, which also stars Kiara Advani, Diljit Dosanjh and Kareena Kapoor Khan. In a candid conversation with IWMBuzz, Akshay Kumar talks about Good Newwz, on working with 21 new directors till date, his reunion with Kareena Kapoor Khan after almost 10 years and a lot more. Read to find out:
Akshay, Good Newwz is made on a very sensitive and serious subject, but you guys are presenting it in a comedy way. How careful were you throughout the process?
Well, we have taken very good care of it. IVF is a real process, to be honest. It’s not something I have made up myself, so no one can really say that ‘Aisa nahi hota’. It happens probably once in a blue moon, but it does happen. So it was a very important story to tell, especially for women, because the process has given a lot of people their families. But we have taken good care of things.
Akshay, during the trailer launch, even Karan Johar had mentioned that you primarily work with new directors. But why have you not worked enough with established directors?
I don’t know, to be honest. Big directors never came to work with me. Plus, I enjoy working with new directors because I feel their hunger to do well and make a name for themselves is much more than established directors. It’s a do or die situation for them. This time is my 21st new director. It’s like you create your own journey. If a big director doesn’t come to you, you find a way and get things done. It is exactly that.
You are working after a decade with Kareena Kapoor. How does it feel?
Oh, it was amazing. I have worked with Karishma a lot. I have very fond memories of Kareena. She was very small at that time and I used to lift her on my lap. My memories of Kareena go back till then. It’s amazing.
What’s your take on certain politicians claiming that Bollywood movies are promoting sexism?
I strongly feel that a film should be taken as just a film. You go to the theatre, you give 200/250 rupees and you should just go home after enjoying it. Also, I repeat, as actors, we just play ‘characters’, be it negative or positive. Why do people selectively pick up things? In that case, I also promote ‘No Smoking’. How many people have actually stopped? (Chuckles)
You have been having a fabulous time in the industry since the last few years. All your films are earning magnificent profit. How do you look at it?
See, I look at it in a very simple way. I always ensure that my films recover the money invested on them. The budgets of my films are really low. Do you know the budget of Good Newwz? Just 36 crore. So even if such a movie crosses 100 crore or 150 crore, it is more than enough. For this film, a part of the profit will go to Karan Johar and Dharma Productions, whereas the other part will come to me and my production. So, all my films are profitable because of the low budget.
Akshay, Sooryavanshi and Dabangg 3 are releasing within a span of a week. Do you think it will affect the business of both?
No, I don’t think so. There’s a gap of one week and that’s good enough. And also, in today’s time, a solo release date is difficult, so clashes are inevitable. My movie is also clashing with Radhe on Eid. It can happen. But for Sooryavanshi, there’s a gap of a week, so it is not bothering me.
