How Khiladi Kumar went on to become National Award-winner Akshay Kumar
- "Arre na hum Amitaabh
- Na Dilip Kumaar
- Na kisi hero ke bachche
- Ham hain seedhe saadhe Akshay Akshay
- Ham hain seedhe saadhe Akshay
- O kabhi dang kabhi duung aise Akshay Akshay
- Kabhi bang kabhi boom vaise Akshay."
- Indeevar "Hum Hain Seedhe Sadhe Akshay" (Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi)
On the Koffee with Karan episode with his wife Twinkle Khanna, Akshay Kumar spoke of how he still has no awards to show for his two decade plus career in Hindi cinema. It's a separate discussion altogether whether any of his performances so far have merited one.
But the couple let in on a joke on how it was good that Kumar was a no-show at the award shows given that he never won any.
In one of the most surprising announcements of the day, the National Film Awards jury, led by filmmaker Priyadarshan, who directed Kumar in one of his most iconic films in Hera Pheri, felt that the actor's time had come. It was before that of his rivals - Shah Rukh Khan (Fan), Salman Khan (Sultan) and Aamir Khan (Dangal) - who haven't won Best Actor yet.
 |
| What does this win tell us about Akshay Kumar? For starters, that his nationalistic choices have caught the government's attention. Photo: Screegrab |
So Kumar joins the list of actors such as Sanjeev Kumar, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Mamooty, Mohanlal, Rajkummar Rao, Irrfan Khan to name a few as a National Award recipient.
Kumar's patriot act last year in Rustom and Airlift (we are knowingly obliterating Housefull 3 on grounds of sanity) paid dividends, and he was awarded for his work in the former in which he plays a navy commander modelled on the infamous Commander Nanavati who killed his wife's lover and got away with the crime.
To ensure that Kumar gets his own heroic drama, the filmmakers had him also play the lawyer defending himself, dressed in his pristine white naval uniform no less. In his Thank You video from the sets of his upcoming film, Padman, Kumar spoke about the significance of the uniform: "Apne desh ki navy ki uniform pehn paana apne aap mein hi ek special baat hai." [To wear the uniform of the Indian navy is a matter of great pride.]
It's a different matter altogether that India Today executive editor Sandeep Unnithan left Rustom's costume department red-faced with his article on how it got the outfit all wrong.
Kumar was better in Airlift, also a better film than Rustom. But it's his act as a man in uniform than that of a businessman-good Samaritan who rescues Indians stranded in Kuwait that won him the award.
Writers can now add the phrase National Award-winning actor in front of Akshay Kumar's name. It's an honour that has eluded both Shah Rukh and Salman; at least Aamir has a special citation which dates back to 1989 for his work in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar and Raakh. [His home productions Lagaan and Taare Zameen Par, also his directorial debut, have won the National Film Awards.]
What does this win tell us about Akshay Kumar? For starters, that his nationalistic choices have caught the government's attention.
That he is a force to be reckoned - Excel Entertainment has cast him in lead for Gold, in which he plays a Hockey player of India's heralded Olympic winning-team, and Salman Khan and Karan Johar are producing a film starring him.
Kumar may join Ranaut to win back-to-back acting awards for his next, Toilet Ek Prem Katha, is based on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Khiladi Kumar sure has come a long way from the action hero who romanced Rekha to "In The Night No Control" and danced in the rain to "Tip Tip Barsa Paani" to the conscientious actor who caters to the family audience with dramas.
Whatever we think of his thespian skills, or lack of, the prolific actor who - like Aamir Khan - doesn't attend award shows, will be making the trip to Delhi on May 3 to collect the prize.