Bollywood Khiladi Akshay Kumar celebrates his 58th birthday on September 9 and every year fans celebrate the birthday of one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars.
Born as Rajiv Hariom Bhatia in 1967, Akshay’s journey from being a waiter in Bangkok to becoming one of India’s highest-grossing and most respected actors is nothing short of epic. He is fondly known as ‘Khiladi Kumar’ after the success of his action thrillers – the Khiladi series.
Akshay’s career spans over 150 films and he has worked in almost every genre, from action and comedy to socially relevant drama.
His life story is as much about success and stardom as it is about hard work and discipline.
Akshay was born in Old Delhi and later moved out of his hometown in search of work. He moved to Bangkok and worked as a waiter and chef in Bangkok to make ends meet. He then returned to Mumbai where he taught martial arts to make a living.
According to earlier reports, he was paid just Rs 5,000 for his first acting assignment; it was for a film called ‘Deedar’. The figure seems almost unreal when compared to the amount he receives for his work.
From that small cheque, he now reportedly earns over Rs 90 crore per film and his net worth has shot up to over Rs 2,500 crore.
His wealth is spread across multiple sectors such as film production, endorsements, startup investments, luxury real estate including seaside duplexes in Mumbai and villas abroad, a fleet of expensive cars and even a private jet.
Despite his immense success and superhit films, Akshay Kumar’s discipline is what sets him apart from others.
He has revealed that he is an early riser and wakes up by 4 am. In one of his previous interviews, he had said, “I have never missed a sunrise in my life.”
He also revealed that he does not attend late-night parties and follows a very strict routine.
He starts his day with martial arts training, yoga and meditation. He also carefully plans a diet rich in proteins and balanced nutrition. He follows a vegetarian diet and recently also talked about keeping a Monday fast.
“On Monday I fast the whole day, like Sunday is the last meal and after that, Monday to Tuesday morning full day fast (On Monday I fast the whole day. Sunday is the last meal, and then I fast the whole day from Monday to Tuesday morning,” he said in a recent gathering.
Akshay has been very vocal about how health is his biggest asset.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Akshay prefers to perform his own stunts, earning him the title of the ‘Indian Jackie Chan’.
Akshay’s fitness philosophy is also linked to his belief in giving to charity.
He has supported several martial arts training programmes, especially those focused on women’s self-defence.
However, his philanthropic work goes far beyond fitness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he donated Rs 25 crore to the PM CARES Fund, and over the years, he has quietly contributed to the welfare of soldiers’ families, drought-affected farmers, and acid attack victims and survivors.
Recently he donated Rs 5 crore for the Punjab floods for relief material, calling it ‘not charity, but service’.
He was one of the key supporters of the ‘Bharat Ke Veer’ initiative that aids the families of martyred jawans, and has funded insurance plans for stunt performers who often risk their lives for cinema.
He has joined hands with local citizens to clean up Mumbai’s Juhu beach after Ganpati immersion.
Personal Life
Akshay Kumar married Twinkle Khanna, daughter of veteran actors Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia, in 2001. Twinkle is a former actress and now a well-known author, columnist and interior designer. The couple has two children, son Aarav and daughter Nitara.
Akshay has turned 58 and is showing no signs of slowing down. According to sources, he will celebrate his birthday by announcing his 200th film, a feat that very few actors in Indian cinema have achieved.
Akshay announced his 200th film Akshay has earned a lot of fame for his disciplined lifestyle and successful acting career. Because Akshay remains a role model for millions of people. Career, and generous heart.
