Akshay Kumar is 59 years old: How did a boy who grew up in a family of 24 and worked as a waiter in Thailand become a Bollywood legend?

Akshay Kumar is 59 years old: How a boy who grew up in a family of 24 and worked as a waiter in Thailand became a Bollywood legend?

On September 9, one of Bollywood's most famous actors, Akshay Kumar, celebrates his birthday. Active in the film industry for over three decades, the actor has starred in hundreds of films, portraying diverse characters ranging from action movies to comedies, historical dramas, and socially-themed films.

But his life path has not always been associated with red carpets and millions of fans. Before entering the world of cinema, Akshay Kumar lived an ordinary life, worked as a waiter in Thailand, and studied martial arts. It was these experiences that later played an important role in his acting career.

Akshay Kumar's real name is Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia. He was born on September 9, 1967, in Amritsar. At that time, his family lived a simple life. His father, Hari Om Bhatia, was a military officer, and his mother, Aruna Bhatia, was a homemaker. Akshay has a sister named Alka.

Although Akshay was born in Amritsar, he grew up in the Chandni Chowk area of Delhi. In a 2023 interview with ANI, he spoke about his childhood, saying he lived with his uncles. According to Akshay, 24 people slept in one room, and in the morning they had to climb over each other to get outside.

Since childhood, Akshay was interested in sports but did not get good grades in school. Inspired by a neighborhood boy who practiced karate, Akshay also decided to master this sport. After his 10th-grade exams, he went to Thailand, where he mastered various martial arts. He also earned a black belt in taekwondo.

Upon returning home, he tried his hand at various jobs in different cities. For example, he worked at a travel agency in Calcutta, sold jewelry, and taught karate to children in Mumbai. As the son of an army officer, he even considered joining the Indian Armed Forces.

However, fate had other plans for him. The father of one of his students suggested that Akshay try modeling. A handsome young man with a good physique seemed like the ideal model to him. He hired Akshay for a furniture advertisement, and after a two-hour shoot, Kumar received a fee twice as large as what he earned working full-time as a coach.

Soon, Akshay's interest shifted to the modeling industry. In addition to shooting for brands, he worked for free with photographer Jayesh Seth for two years, and in return, he got a professional portfolio that he carried with him everywhere. Seth photographed movie stars, and Akshay assisted him.

Akshay Kumar began his film career in 1991 with the film "Saugandh" (An Unequal Marriage). However, his first films did not cause a big sensation.

In 1987, he played the role of a martial arts instructor in Mahesh Bhatt's film "Aaj" (Today), starring Kumar Gaurav. His role was very small; the directors did not even show Akshay's face. The name of Kumar Gaurav's character was Akshay, and this name pleased young Rajiv so much that he later went to court and changed his name to Akshay Kumar. He said that shortly after changing his name, whether by coincidence or fate, he received two film offers.

After his films failed at the box office, producers and directors did not take him seriously as an actor.

But the 1992 film "Khiladi" (The Player) completely changed the situation. Combining elements of crime, romance, and thriller, this film made Akshay a famous actor overnight. It was after this film that he was nicknamed "Khiladi," meaning "player."

Akshay became one of Bollywood's main stars in the 1990s due to his skills in action scenes and physical fitness.

The actor did not limit himself only to action films. By the 2000s, he also began to showcase his comedic side.

Films like "Hera Pheri" (When Fate Smiles), "Mujhse Shaadi Karogi?" (Will You Marry Me?), "Garam Masala", "Bhagam Bhag" (The Runaway Fugitive), "Bhool Bhulaiyaa" (The Labyrinth), and "Singh Is Kinng" demonstrated his talent in the comedy genre.

Thus, Akshay proved that he could simultaneously be an action hero, a leading actor in romantic comedies, and a performer in serious dramas.

In subsequent years, he also played serious and socially-themed roles in films such as "Airlift" (The Rescue Flight), "Baby" (The Boy), "Rustom", "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha" (The Unrevealed Truth), "Pad Man", and "Kesari" (A Love Story).

The 2016 film "Rustom" brought him one of India's most prestigious film awards — the National Film Award for Best Actor.

The actor has also been honored with the Padma Shri award by the Government of India.

One of the most important events in Akshay Kumar's personal life was his marriage to actress, author, and columnist Twinkle Khanna.

Twinkle is the daughter of legendary Bollywood actors Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia. Akshay and Twinkle married on January 7, 2001, in an intimate ceremony. They have two children — a son, Aarav, and a daughter, Nitara.

Interestingly, although both Twinkle and Akshay are in the film industry, their family views differ on many issues. The actor himself has spoken about how the spouses do not interfere excessively in each other's lives and respect each other's personal space. Twinkle compared their relationship to a doubles tennis team — meaning that although both are one team, each performs their role on the court separately.

Akshay Kumar does not talk much about his family in interviews, but he does not hide that his attitude toward life changed after his children were born.

According to him, previously he was in no hurry to return home after filming ended. But after his children were born, he wanted to finish work as quickly as possible and return home.

His son Aarav, unlike his father, prefers to stay away from public life. Akshay said he wants him to choose an independent life path, rather than staying in the shadow of his surname and famous father.

His father played a major role in Akshay becoming an actor. Hari Om Bhatia passed away in 2000. The actor recently recalled once again how enthusiastically his father followed his career.

According to Akshay, his father watched his films multiple times, even taking acquaintances to the cinema to show them his son's films. The actor said his father might have watched each of his films up to 18–20 times.

Today, Akshay Kumar remains one of Bollywood's most prolific actors. Although his career spans over three decades, the actor continues to star in new projects.

Looking at his career, one can see that success for Akshay Kumar has not been limited to just one genre or one image. He became an action hero, made people laugh, played in serious dramas, portrayed historical figures, and starred in films about social issues.

Perhaps that is why he was able to leave a unique mark in Bollywood. Rajiv Bhatia, who grew up in an ordinary family, worked as a waiter in Thailand, and studied martial arts, has today become Akshay Kumar, recognized by millions of viewers.