Today, Akshay Kumar completes 30 years in the industry. It was on this day, three decades back, when a good looking Punjabi guy, who had moved from Delhi to Bombay (before it became Mumbai) in his younger days, had graduated from being a small time model to an actor. A lot has already been said and written around how a series of chance encounters had resulted in the actor ultimately sign up for Pramod Chakravorty’s Deedar (1992) before Saugandh (1991) turned out to be his debut release. Both boasted of a good ensemble of veteran actors and though none of these set the box office on fire, Akshay Kumar was noticed for his action skills, though his acting needed fine tuning.
From 25th January 1991 to 25th January 2021, a lot has changed, what with the action hero evolving to being a bonafide actor as well. During these three decades, not just has Akshay Kumar turned out to be a top superstar, he has also gained immense recognition for his choice of subjects as well as different characterisations, which has ensured that he is seen as one of the most trustworthy and reliable actors around.
What has brought in further value preposition is the fact that he also works at a very rapid pace, something that was the hallmark of his standing in the industry in the 90s, the start of the millennium, the decade that followed and the new one that has begun already. With close to 150 films to his name, that’s an average of five movies per year, something that no other superstar in the current times - who has survived Bollywood for three decades or more - can boast of. While this still used to be a norm for many superstars back in the 70s, 80s and the 90s, the selectivity started coming into play for all post 2000.
However not for Akshay Kumar who has been delivering consistently at the box office year after year, what with the last full year (2019) for the industry seeing him come up with three 200 Crore Club biggies (Mission Mangal, Housefull 4, Good Newwz) and one major money spinner (Kesari). Even 2020 was set to have at least three big releases (Sooryavanshi, Laxmmi, Prithviraj) before pandemic resulted in change in plans.
No wonder, all eyes are on Akshay Kumar to make it big all over again in 2021 once theatres start opening up in film capacity. He has as many as seven films in different stages of production - Sooryavanshi, Bell Bottom, Prithviraj, Atrangi Re, Rakshabandhan and
Bachchan Pandey. Out of these, Sooryavanshi and Bell Bottom are ready, Prithviraj is in post production and Atrangi Re has seen a major portion completed already. Bachchan Pandey is currently being shot in Jaisalmer, Rakshabandhan would go on floors soon and
Ram Setu is a biggie planned for 2022 arrival.
For someone who has completed 30 years in the industry, this a major line up ahead for 2021 and 2022 and rest assured, by the middle of this year there would be at least two to three more announcements ready to be made. The need of the hour is for box office office to return back to normalcy and with continued hard work and determination shown by the actor with fast paced delivery and reliable outcome, Akshay Kumar is rightly and widely been acknowledged as the “one man industry”.
Akshay Kumar’s upcoming releases
Sooryavanshi
Bell Bottom
Prithviraj
Atrangi Re
Rakshabandhan
Bachchan Pandey
Ram Setu