By Albert Valentin | Published June 11, 2008

In the popular world of India’s Bollywood cinema, many action heroes emerged, from Abhishek Bachchan to Sanjay Dutt. However, when it came to some amazing action in Bollywood, look no further than Akshay Kumar, who unlike many of the other Bollywood action heroes, actually has a martial arts background to back up his trademark acting and dancing skills that has made him a heartthrob in Hollywood.

Akshay Kumar was born Rajiv Hari Om-Bhatia on November 9, 1967 in Amristar in the Punjab state of India. At the age of nine, Rajiv’s father convinced him to begin training in the martial arts. Living in Bangkok, Thailand at the time, Rajiv began to practice martial arts. He would eventually earn black belts in Tae Kwon Do and Karate, as well as practice Muay Thai.

Rajiv would find work as both a chef at a sidewalk stall as well as teaching martial arts. One of his students was a model agent and thought that Rajiv would find success as a male model. Thus, he would begin a successful run as a model. In 1991, Rajiv was discovered by a film producer and soon, Rajiv would be known in Bollywood cinema as Akshay Kumar.

In 1992, after a series of small roles, Akshay broke through when he made the film KHILADI, which would become his most well-known action film. Combining gunplay with his trademark martial arts skills, Akshay became a huge star and many films with the word “Khiladi” in the title soon followed, all which starred Akshay in the lead role. Titles included MAIN KHILADI TU ANARI (1994), MR. & MRS. KHILADI (1997), INTERNATIONAL KHILADI (1999), and KHILADI 420 (2000).

However, despite being of one Bollywood’s premier action heroes, Akshay is one to showcase his versatile talent. As a result, he tends to star in the occasional romantic comedy, like the successful GARAM MASALA (2005) to screwball comedies such as HERA PHERI (2000) and its wildly successful sequel PHIR HERA PHERI (2006). Sometimes, he can even be seen in horror films such as JAANI DUSHMAN: EK ANOKHI KAHANI (2002).

Formerly having a reputation as a playboy, Akshay settled down in 2001 when he married actress Twinkle Khanna. The couple have two children. Aside from his film career, Akshay hosted a documentary series on the martial arts for the National Geographic Channel, appeared on stage in the Bollywood hit show HEAT, and has recorded a song dedicated to the Mumbai bombing victims on July 11, 2006.

Akshay Kumar recently returned to action films with TASHAN, opposite longtime friend Saif Ali Khan. With a long hiatus from action-orientated films, TASHAN may in fact become Akshay’s return to action star status, much like the recent resurgance of the likes of Dolph Lundgren and Jean-Claude Van Damme, who have made comebacks in the direct-to-DVD circuit. Only time will tell the fate of Bollywood action icon Akshay Kumar.

SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
2009 – Hera Pheri 3 (non-action)
2008 – Tashan
2006 – Phir Hera Pheri (non-action)
2005 – Waqt: The Race Against Time
2004 – Aitraaz
2004 – Aan: Men At Work
2004 – Police Force: An Inside Story
2004 – Khakee
2002 – Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani
2001 – Ajnabee
2000 – Khiladi 420
2000 – Hera Pheri (non-action)
1999 – International Khiladi
1999 – Jaanwar
1997 – Insaaf: The Final Justice
1997 – Mr. & Mrs. Khiladi
1996 – Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi
1995 – Sabse Bada Khiladi
1994 – Main Khiladi Tu Anari
1992 – Khiladi

Related Topics:
Akshay Kumar  •  Bollywood