Game Changer
Forbes India|December 21, 2018

From fighting the bad guys and essaying comic roles to doing films based on real life, Akshay Kumar has not just evolved but also hit a purple patch.

Rajiv Singh
Game Changer
THE MEETING WAS SLATED FOR THE third Friday of November at 4.45 pm in Film city, Goregaon, deep in suburban Mumbai. Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia was running late by over an hour. In Studio No 5, the shooting of Mission Mangal is on in full swing. Outside, two security guards with walkie talkies and Bluetooth headphones intermittingly screech “Silence please”. Mission Mangal is unique not just because it is being billed as India’s first space film but also because it has five women and two men in lead roles.

After an hour, the actor comes out of the studio, rushes to his vanity van, changes from his formal attire into tracks and T-shirt, steps into his SUV and heads for his home in Juhu, roughly 15 kilometres south of Film city. “I am extremely sorry for the delay,” he apologies. “I haven’t slept for two days and had to finish a few scenes, so got late.” Visibly drained, the strain of promoting Rajinikanth co-starrer 2.0, India’s costliest movie with a budget of over 500 crore, as well as various shooting assignments, including Mission Mangal, is showing on the face of Bhatia, who changed his name to Akshay Kumar in 1987.

The interview begins. Kumar, 51, is distracted. The culprits are not his ardent fans who can’t look through the dark-tinted glasses of his SUV, but the mobile home screen on which the interview is being recorded. “It’s a Phantom,” he smiles. “I used to love this character.” The way Phantom used to fight the baddies, he continues, and stay fit was amazing. “I even loved Tarzan,” he grins, explaining his attachment with the character. “I don’t wear any rings, chains or even a watch. Tarzan too didn’t believe in such things,” he says before breaking into his signature hearty laugh.

この記事は Forbes India の December 21, 2018 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は Forbes India の December 21, 2018 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

FORBES INDIAのその他の記事すべて表示
Home-Cooked Meal Is Now Greatly Valued
Forbes India

Home-Cooked Meal Is Now Greatly Valued

The pandemic has also brought with it an improved focus on hygiene, use of technology in dining, rise of cloud kitchens and resurgence in popularity of Indian ingredients

time-read
8 分  |
May 21, 2021
Paytm 3.0 - Reaching Near Breakeven In Two Years
Forbes India

Paytm 3.0 - Reaching Near Breakeven In Two Years

As of 2020, Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s super app for financial services had run up losses in thousands of crores. Now, as digital payments gets yet another boost courtesy Covid-19, he’s hopeful of reaching near breakeven in two years

time-read
10+ 分  |
June 4, 2021
THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED WOMEN GREATER LABOUR PAIN
Forbes India

THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED WOMEN GREATER LABOUR PAIN

Covid-19 has shown that women are more likely to face the brunt of job losses than men, and find fewer opportunities when they want to resume. That apart, several have to deal with increased hours of unpaid work at home and even domestic abuse

time-read
8 分  |
May 21, 2021
LEADERSHIP WILL BE ABOUT SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE
Forbes India

LEADERSHIP WILL BE ABOUT SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE

Leaders must not only guard their teams first during a crisis, but also deal with stakeholders with respect and dignity. And apart from pursuing business goals, they should remain committed to our planet and the environment

time-read
7 分  |
May 21, 2021
PHILANTHROPY SHOULD BE HUMBLE, BUT NOT MODEST
Forbes India

PHILANTHROPY SHOULD BE HUMBLE, BUT NOT MODEST

Apart from building a flexible and resilient framework for the future, philanthropists, civil society and the government must work in tandem so that every rupee is absorbed on the ground

time-read
9 分  |
May 21, 2021
INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE, TECH WILL DISRUPT SECTOR
Forbes India

INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE, TECH WILL DISRUPT SECTOR

While clinical research will get a boost, having a skilled workforce and public spending on health care will be challenges in the near term

time-read
8 分  |
May 21, 2021
DIGITALISATION WILL HELP IN VALUE CREATION
Forbes India

DIGITALISATION WILL HELP IN VALUE CREATION

As the pandemic brings technology and innovation to the core of business and daily life, the next decade will see about 150 million digital-first families in India

time-read
8 分  |
May 21, 2021
Industry 4.0: Climate Revolution?
Forbes India

Industry 4.0: Climate Revolution?

Augmenting sustainability alongside digital capabilities is an economic, competitive and global opportunity for India’s businesses, but regulations need to reflect intent

time-read
10 分  |
June 4, 2021
EV Dream Still Miles Away
Forbes India

EV Dream Still Miles Away

Electric vehicles have remained a buzzword in India for years. But not much has moved on ground due to high upfront costs, range anxiety and charging infrastructure

time-read
6 分  |
June 4, 2021
Living Waters
Forbes India

Living Waters

A virus has caused us to scramble for oxygen but our chokehold on the environment is slowly strangling the very waters that breathe life into us. The virus is a timely reminder: We are merely consumers, not producers of life’s breath on this planet

time-read
4 分  |
June 4, 2021