Akshay Kumar, original name Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia, (born September 9, 1967, Amritsar, Punjab, India), Indian actor who became one of Bollywood’s leading performers, known for his versatility.
Bhatia was the son of a authorities employee in a rustic wherein appearing typically runs within the household. As a younger man, he skilled extensively in dance and martial arts, and his first film position, nonspeaking and uncredited, was as a martial arts teacher in Aaj (1987; Today). He labored at a Bangkok meals stall, tried his hand at modeling, and appeared in a number of movies earlier than being provided a starring position in Deedar (1992; “Glimpse”) by director Pramod Chakravarthy. It was in these early levels of his profession that he took the skilled title Akshay Kumar.
Kumar acted in a gradual stream of thrillers and fast-paced dramas, together with Khiladi (1992; “Player”), which introduced him appreciable consideration. His athleticism and daredevil nature had been effectively displayed in motion movies reminiscent of Main khiladi tu anari (1994; I’m the Expert, You’re the Novice), wherein Kumar performed a police inspector defending a star witness. He once more portrayed a conflicted policeman in Mohra (“Pawn”), one of the crucial common Indian movies of 1994. Despite his success in these high-intensity roles, Kumar’s beauty additionally led him to star in romantic comedies reminiscent of Yeh dillagi (1994; The Game of Love), a unfastened adaptation of the American movie Sabrina, and Dhadkan (2000; “Heartbeat”), a narrative of organized marriage wherein Kumar’s character should win over his reluctant bride. Ajnabee (2001; “Stranger”) was a change of tempo for the often charming actor, and his flip as a philandering husband and assassin gained him his first Filmfare Award, for finest villain.
With Hera pheri (2000; “Monkey Business”), the versatile actor once more took on a brand new form of position—that of the comedic lead. Hera pheri was a remake of the Indian movie Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), a kidnapping caper, and it was common sufficient to result in a sequel (2006). Kumar continued to look in comedies, and Garam masala (2005; “Hot Spice”) garnered him a second Filmfare Award, for finest actor in a comedic position. His later movies included Heyy Babyy (2007), Singh Is Kinng (2008), OMG: Oh My God! (2012), and Toilet: Ek prem katha (2017; “Toilet: A Love Story”). He additionally starred within the common Housefull collection of comedy movies (2010, 2012, and 2016).
In 2009 Kumar obtained one of many Indian authorities’s highest civilian honours, the Padma Shri, in recognition of his contribution to India’s cultural life.