Akshay Kumar is one of the biggest and most popular actors in Bollywood, having appeared in 112 movies with more productions on the way. The award-winning actor is an accomplished stuntman, producer, and philanthropist, with endorsements and business investments all over the world. He’s the only Bollywood star to crack Forbes lost of the World’s Top 10 Highest-Paid Actors for 2019.
Although well known in southeast Asia and parts of North American - particularly in Canada (more on that below) - some of the following aspects of Kumar’s life may surprise his ardent followers.
He’s Canadian
Kumar was awarded Canadian citizenship in 2017, in what some see as a reward for supporting local politicians. Kumar has real-estate holdings in Canada, and it was suggested he was paving the way for a Hollywood career after a string of flops.
Unfortunately, his dual-citizenship has been questioned by some Indians as anti-patriotic - he doesn’t vote in Indian elections because of it - but Kumar denies any interest in politics. This leads to the next point, his focus on India.
But He Won’t Be Canadian for Long
In December 2019, Kumar has announced that he plans to give up his Canadian citizenship and has applied for an Indian passport. As noted some critics have questioned his motives, both in becoming and then rejecting his Canadian status, and it seems he succumbing to pressure on this issue again. While it must hurt to lose citizenship status in Canada, many view it as a way to ease the waters with India.
It’s highly likely that the country of his birth will welcome his return and grant him Indian citizenship.
He Once Played Hannibal Lecter - Sorta
In the 1999 thriller Sangharsh, Kumar played imprisoned professor Arman Varma, who helps the heroine Agent Oberoi (Preity Zinta) track down a serial killer. Sangharsh borrowed several elements of the plot and characters from 1991’s Oscar-winning Silence of the Lambs, with Kumar in the part made famous by Anthony Hopkins.
So although Kumar didn’t actually portray Dr. Hannibal Lecter, he was certainly channeling the character - up to the point where Oberoi falls in love with him, anyway. Perhaps he would be apt to play Hannibal in any remakes in the future? His acting is definitely up to snuff!
His Mother-In-Law Stars in Tenet
Kumar’s mother-in-law is Hindi actress Dimple Kapadia, mother to wife Twinkle Kahanna. Kapadia has appeared in dozens of Bollywood films, even sharing a (censored) on-screen kiss during her time as a sex symbol. Her daughter Twinkle, Kumar’s spouse, has 17 Bollywood credits in the 90s before becoming a successful novelist.
In director Christopher Nolan’s upcoming thriller Tenet, she plays a mysterious mentor to the hero (John David Washington), with a prominent line in the recent trailer. We’d expect Akshay and Twinkle to attend the Tenet premiere given half a chance.
He Has an Honorary Doctorate
Kumar was bestowed an honorary doctorate from the University of Windsor (Canada) in 2008. According to the Times of India, he was recognized for his social work in Canada and India, including assistance for the elderly.
Akshay is on record saying that he considers this a bigger honor than winning an Oscar. In any case, we are all obliged to call him Dr. Kumar from now on.
He Has a Blackbelt in Karate
Fans know that Kumar is a fitness nut, accomplished in activities like kickboxing, parkour, and various martial arts. He was awarded a blackbelt in Taekwondo 2012 and given the rank of “katana” as a six-degree Karate blackbelt back in 2009.
His son Aarav has also achieved a Karate blackbelt, at age 13. Kumar has long planned to open dozens of Karate schools in India, to encourage others to take the path to fitness and discipline he has enjoyed.
He Supports Kabaddi
In 2014 Kumar used his massive Bollywood salary to purchase a team in the World Kabaddi League, a fledgling league trying to foster the game of circle-style kabaddi. Professional kabaddi - a game that combines wrestling and tag - has gone through several league changes since then, across India, Pakistan, the UK, and North America.
Purchasing a professional sports team has become fashionable for Bollywood stars, and although most spend their time and money on cricket teams, Kumar has followed his martial arts passion into kabaddi.
He is the “Khiladi”
Bollywood fans would like to think of Kumar as a sportsman or someone who’s especially clever - and that certainly fits his affinity for the Hindi term “Khiladi”. Kumar has appeared in 8 films (to date) with the word “Khiladi” in them: Khiladi, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Sabse Bada Khiladi, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, International Khiladi, Mr. Aur Mrs. Khiladi, Khiladi 420, and Khiladi 786.
Given that Kumar has appeared in over 100 Bollywood films, it’s not usual for many to have the same theme or title.
He Donates to Many Charities
As befits a man from humble beginnings, Kumar was donated millions in rupees to various charities throughout his career, including flood relief, veterans, and animal safety. Like others in Bollywood, he has spoken against terrorism at home and abroad, and donated to victims of terror attacks.
Kumar is also working to establish better workplace insurance for stunt-workers, a career he appreciates from his earlier career as a model and stuntman. What a man! We hope many others, both in Hollywood and Bollywood take after his charitable actions.
Akshay Kumar is Not His Real Name
Many actors across the glove end up having a name change. Whether it be something that sounds nicer to the actor or something shorter, this commonplace is true for Akshay as well. This fact probably doesn’t come as a surprise to his fans, but Kumar’s real name is Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia. Having grown up in Punjab and learning martial arts in Thailand, Kumar then returned to India and stumbled into a modeling career.
In one of his first roles in 1987, he decided to keep his character’s name Akshay and took his last name from 80s star Kumar Gaurav.
