Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar (born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia on 9 September 1967) is an Indian actor, film producer and television presenter who primarily works in Hindi cinema. Widely known by the nickname "Khiladi Kumar", he has appeared in more than 150 films during a career spanning more than three decades.
Kumar began his career as a leading actor with Saugandh in 1991 and gained his breakthrough with the action thriller Khiladi in 1992. His early career established him as an action star, particularly through films associated with the Khiladi series. He subsequently expanded his repertoire into romantic dramas, comedies, thrillers, social films and patriotic-themed stories.
Among his notable films are Mohra, Suhaag, Hera Pheri, Dhadkan, Aitraaz, Namastey London, Welcome, Special 26, Airlift, Rustom, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Pad Man, Kesari, Mission Mangal, Good Newwz, Sooryavanshi and OMG 2.
Kumar has received several major honours, including two National Film Awards for Best Actor, two Filmfare Awards and the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, which he received in 2009.
Early life and background
Akshay Kumar was born as Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia on 9 September 1967 in the Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi. He was born into a Punjabi Hindu family. His father, Hari Om Bhatia, was an officer in the Indian Army who later worked with UNICEF, while his mother was Aruna Bhatia.
Kumar grew up in Chandni Chowk before his family moved to Mumbai. His younger sister is Alka Bhatia. From an early age, he developed an interest in sports and martial arts.
He attended Don Bosco High School, Matunga, while simultaneously practising karate. He later enrolled at Guru Nanak Khalsa College of Arts, Science & Commerce in Mumbai but left college because he was not particularly interested in academic studies.
At his father's suggestion, Kumar travelled to Bangkok, where he lived for approximately five years and studied martial arts, including Muay Thai. During his time in Thailand, he worked as a chef and waiter.
Early career and entry into films
Before entering the film industry, Kumar worked in several occupations. After returning from Thailand, he worked in a travel agency in Calcutta, as a chef in a hotel in Dhaka and as a jewellery seller in Delhi.
He eventually returned to Bombay and began teaching martial arts. The father of one of his students recommended him for modelling, leading to his first modelling assignment for a furniture showroom. He subsequently worked as an assistant to photographer Jayesh Sheth for around 18 months while building his portfolio.
Kumar also worked as a background dancer in films. His first screen appearance came in the film Aaj (1987), in which he played a karate instructor.
He later adopted the professional name Akshay Kumar, taking inspiration from the character Akshay played by actor Kumar Gaurav.
A missed flight for an advertising assignment in Bangalore unexpectedly helped advance his film career. After visiting a film studio with his portfolio, Kumar was signed by producer Pramod Chakravarthy for a leading role in Deedar (1992).
1991–1999: Breakthrough as an action star
Kumar made his debut as a leading actor in Saugandh (1991), appearing opposite Raakhee and Shantipriya. His breakthrough came the following year with Abbas Mustan's suspense thriller Khiladi (1992).
The success of Khiladi established Kumar as an action-oriented leading man and eventually gave rise to the Khiladi series. He followed it with films such as Mr. Bond and Deedar.
In 1993, several of his releases performed poorly commercially, although Waqt Hamara Hai was considered a success.
Kumar had a highly productive year in 1994, appearing in 11 films. He played a police inspector in both Main Khiladi Tu Anari and Mohra, with both films becoming major commercial successes. He also appeared opposite Kajol in Yash Chopra's romantic drama Yeh Dillagi. The film was successful and earned Kumar his first Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actor.
He continued his association with action films through Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995) and Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996). The latter became a commercial success and further strengthened his action-star image.
In 1997, Kumar appeared in Yash Chopra's Dil To Pagal Hai in a supporting role, earning a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also starred in Mr. and Mrs. Khiladi and Aflatoon.
The late 1990s brought a period of commercial fluctuation. However, Kumar received critical recognition for Sangharsh (1999) and achieved a commercial comeback with Jaanwar (1999).
2000–2006: Comedy and commercial breakthrough
The year 2000 marked a major change in Kumar's career. He starred alongside Paresh Rawal and Suniel Shetty in Priyadarshan's comedy Hera Pheri. The film became a commercial success and established Kumar's ability to perform comedy alongside his established action persona.
He also received appreciation for his performance in the romantic drama Dhadkan (2000). His action work continued through films such as Khiladi 420, in which he performed several physically demanding stunts.
In 2001, Kumar appeared in Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love and played a negative role in Abbas Mustan's thriller Ajnabee. His performance as the antagonist was particularly praised and earned him his first Filmfare Award for Best Villain, along with the IIFA award for Performance in a Negative Role.
In 2002, he appeared in films including Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya, Aankhen, Awara Paagal Deewana and Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani. His performance as a blind man in Aankhen received critical acclaim.
In 2003, Andaaz became a commercial success and was one of the year's major hits.
His 2004 films included Khakee, in which he played a morally compromised police officer who undergoes a transformation, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Aitraaz and Aan: Men at Work. His performances demonstrated his increasing versatility across action, comedy and dramatic roles.
In 2005, Kumar starred in Bewafaa, Waqt: The Race Against Time and Priyadarshan's comedy Garam Masala. His comic performance in Garam Masala earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian.
In 2006, he starred in the successful comedy sequel Phir Hera Pheri, followed by Jaan-E-Mann and Bhagam Bhag. The success of Phir Hera Pheri and Bhagam Bhag reinforced his position as one of Hindi cinema's leading comedy actors.
2007–2011: Peak commercial success
The year 2007 was one of the most successful periods of Kumar's career. His four major releases — Namastey London, Heyy Babyy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Welcome — were commercial successes.
Namastey London was both critically and commercially successful, and Kumar received a Filmfare nomination for Best Actor. His pairing with Katrina Kaif was particularly well received.
Heyy Babyy and Bhool Bhulaiyaa also succeeded at the box office, while Welcome became a blockbuster and Kumar's fifth successive hit. He also appeared in a cameo in Om Shanti Om.
In 2008, Kumar starred in Tashan, marking his return to the Yash Raj Films banner after 11 years. Although the film underperformed, Singh Is Kinng, released later that year, became a major commercial success.
The same year, Kumar began hosting the stunt-based reality show Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi, marking a significant expansion of his career into television.
His 2009 releases included Chandni Chowk to China, 8 x 10 Tasveer, Kambakkht Ishq, Blue and De Dana Dan. While the year contained several commercial disappointments, Kambakkht Ishq achieved substantial worldwide earnings.
In 2010, Kumar appeared in Housefull, Khatta Meetha, Action Replayy and Tees Maar Khan. Housefull achieved a strong opening, while the other films received mixed commercial and critical responses.
His 2011 releases included Patiala House, Thank You and Desi Boyz. He also co-produced the cross-cultural film Breakaway, released in Hindi as Speedy Singhs. He additionally provided the Hindi voice of Optimus Prime in Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
2012–2021: Social dramas and patriotic themes
Kumar's career entered another important phase in 2012 with Housefull 2 and Rowdy Rathore, both major commercial successes. Rowdy Rathore, directed by Prabhudeva, featured Kumar in a double role and became one of the highest-grossing films of the year.
In 2012, Kumar also established another production company, Grazing Goat Pictures Pvt. Ltd.
He produced and starred alongside Paresh Rawal in OMG – Oh My God!. The film initially opened slowly but gained momentum through positive word of mouth and became a commercial success. Kumar later returned to the Khiladi series with Khiladi 786.
In 2013, Kumar appeared in the critically appreciated Special 26. He subsequently played a gangster in Once Upon ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara! and starred in Boss.
In 2014, he returned to major commercial success with Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty, an action thriller that crossed the ₹1 billion mark in India. He subsequently appeared in Entertainment and produced and appeared as himself in The Shaukeens.
His 2015 films included Baby, Gabbar Is Back, Brothers and Singh Is Bling. His performance in Baby received critical appreciation.
In 2016, Kumar starred in Airlift, Housefull 3 and Rustom. Airlift was both a critical and commercial success. His performance in Rustom was particularly recognised, and the film earned more than ₹2 billion at the box office.
Kumar received the National Film Award for Best Actor for his work in Rustom, with the award also recognising his performance in Airlift.
In 2017, he appeared in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, a social drama dealing with sanitation and toilet access. He also participated in promotional activities connected with the film, including digging a toilet in Madhya Pradesh.
In 2018, Kumar starred in Pad Man, another social drama dealing with menstrual hygiene. He also made his Tamil cinema debut in the science-fiction film 2.0, starring opposite Rajinikanth, in which he played the antagonist Pakshirajan.
The year 2019 was another highly successful period for Kumar. He appeared in Kesari, based on the Battle of Saragarhi, followed by Mission Mangal, Housefull 4 and Good Newwz. All four films were commercially successful, with Mission Mangal, Housefull 4 and Good Newwz becoming major domestic grossers.
In 2020, his only release was Laxmii, a horror comedy released directly on Disney+ Hotstar because of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on theatrical releases.
In 2021, Kumar starred in Bell Bottom, which underperformed commercially, followed by Rohit Shetty's Sooryavanshi. The latter became a box-office success and was credited with helping revive theatrical exhibition for Hindi cinema following the pandemic.
He also appeared in the direct-to-digital romantic comedy Atrangi Re, which achieved strong opening-day viewership on its streaming platform.
2022–2024: Career fluctuations
Kumar's commercial fortunes weakened during the early 2020s.
His 2022 releases included Bachchhan Paandey, Samrat Prithviraj, Raksha Bandhan and Ram Setu. Bachchhan Paandey and Samrat Prithviraj received negative or mixed responses and underperformed commercially, while Raksha Bandhan and Ram Setu also failed to achieve the expected box-office performance.
The year 2022 consequently became one of the weaker periods of Kumar's recent career.
In 2023, Selfiee became another commercial failure. His fortunes improved with OMG 2, in which he played a messenger of Shiva. The film became a box-office hit and his performance received positive reviews.
He subsequently played mining engineer Jaswant Singh Gill in Mission Raniganj. Although his performance received a mixed-to-positive critical response, the film performed poorly commercially.
In 2024, Kumar starred in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan alongside Tiger Shroff. Made on a large budget, the film received largely negative reviews and became a commercial disappointment.
His next film, Sarfira, was a remake of the Tamil film Soorarai Pottru. Although the film performed poorly at the box office, Kumar's performance received praise and earned him a Filmfare Best Actor nomination.
He then appeared in the comedy Khel Khel Mein, followed by a cameo as his Sooryavanshi character in Singham Again. Both films received mixed commercial results.
2025–present: Resurgence
Kumar's career showed signs of commercial improvement in 2025.
His first major release of the year was Sky Force, based on India's first airstrike during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War. Although the film received positive responses, its high production cost prevented it from becoming profitable.
He next played lawyer C. Sankaran Nair in Kesari Chapter 2, a historical drama set against the backdrop of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. His performance received positive critical attention, although the film was not profitable commercially because of its high budget.
Kumar then returned to comedy with Housefull 5. The film was released in two versions, Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B, featuring different climaxes and murderers. It became a moderate commercial success and marked his first profitable film since OMG 2.
He also made a cameo appearance as Lord Shiva in the Telugu film Kannappa, which underperformed commercially.
Later in 2025, Kumar reprised his role from Jolly LLB 2 in Jolly LLB 3, appearing alongside Arshad Warsi. The film became a moderate commercial success and was among the year's higher-grossing films.
In 2026, Kumar starred in the horror comedy Bhooth Bangla, directed by Priyadarshan. The film received mixed reviews but became a major commercial success, grossing more than ₹2.30 billion worldwide against a reported budget of ₹1.20 billion. It marked Kumar's first clean hit since OMG 2.
Television career
Kumar has maintained a significant presence on Indian television.
In 2004, he presented the seven-part miniseries Seven Deadly Arts with Akshay Kumar, introducing viewers to different martial arts traditions including kalaripayattu, Shaolin kung fu, karate, taekwondo, aikido, Muay Thai and capoeira.
In 2008, he became the host of Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi. He hosted the first, second and fourth seasons, and the programme became widely popular.
In 2011, Kumar hosted the first Indian version of MasterChef India on Star Plus.
In 2014, he hosted Dare 2 Dance, a reality programme combining dance performances with stunt-based challenges. He also produced the television serial Jamai Raja.
In 2017, he judged The Great Indian Laughter Challenge.
In 2020, Kumar appeared alongside Bear Grylls in an episode of Into the Wild on Discovery Channel. The episode attracted approximately 11 million viewers across Discovery Network channels.
In 2025, he was announced as an investor and mentor on the fashion-focused reality series Pitch to Get Rich. In January 2026, he appeared as host of the Indian version of the American game show Wheel of Fortune.
Production and business ventures
In addition to acting, Kumar has worked as a film producer. He has been associated with production companies including Cape of Good Films and Grazing Goat Pictures.
In 2012, he founded Grazing Goat Pictures Pvt. Ltd. Through his production work, he has participated in projects across comedy, social drama and mainstream Hindi cinema.
Martial arts, fitness and stage performances
Martial arts have remained an important part of Kumar's public identity and career.
He began practising karate during his school years and later studied Muay Thai in Bangkok. His martial arts background contributed to his image as an action performer and enabled him to perform physically demanding stunts throughout his film career.
Kumar has promoted fitness and maintains a routine involving activities such as kickboxing, basketball, swimming, parkour and other forms of exercise.
He has also been associated with efforts to establish martial arts training facilities, including plans for a martial arts school in Maharashtra.
Kumar has performed extensively on stage. On 9 August 2014, he performed at what was described as his 500th live show at the O2 Arena in London during the inaugural World Kabaddi League event. His first live show had taken place in Delhi in 1991.
Philanthropy and public activities
Kumar has been involved in charitable activities and has supported various social causes. His public work has included support for initiatives related to sanitation, women's safety, fitness and martial arts.
His involvement with social films such as Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and Pad Man also brought public attention to issues including sanitation and menstrual hygiene.
Kumar has additionally supported sports-related causes and publicly expressed support for efforts to address corruption in sports administration.
Recognition and honours
Kumar has received numerous awards and nominations throughout his career.
His major honours include:
Padma Shri — Government of India, 2009. National Film Award for Best Actor — for Rustom, with the award also recognising his performance in Airlift. Filmfare Award for Best Villain — for Ajnabee. Filmfare Award for Best Comedian — for Garam Masala.
He has also received numerous nominations and other industry awards for performances across action, comedy, drama and negative roles.
Personal life
Kumar met actress Twinkle Khanna, daughter of actors Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia, during a photo session for Filmfare magazine. The couple married on 17 January 2001.
They have two children, a son, Aarav, born in 2002, and a daughter, Nitara, born in 2012.
Kumar has generally kept his children away from extensive media attention and has spoken about wanting them to have a normal childhood. He has also credited Khanna for supporting his career.
Before his marriage, Kumar was associated with highly publicised relationships with actresses Raveena Tandon and Shilpa Shetty. Both relationships ended before his marriage to Khanna.
Kumar is known for maintaining a disciplined lifestyle and has described himself as a teetotaller.
Legacy
Akshay Kumar is regarded as one of the most prolific actors in Hindi cinema, having worked across action, comedy, romance, thriller, social drama and patriotic-themed films.
His career has been marked by several distinct phases: his emergence as an action star through the Khiladi films, his transition into comedy through films such as Hera Pheri, his sustained commercial success during the late 2000s and 2010s, and his later focus on social and issue-based cinema.
His ability to move between mainstream entertainment and socially themed films has remained a defining feature of his career. Despite periods of commercial decline, his continued output across film, television, production and live entertainment has made him one of the most enduring figures in contemporary Indian popular cinema.