“How can we blame people for being addicted to the bad” – Akshay Kumar

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

February 10, 2011 - 11:20 AM IST

If one would have asked Akshay Kumar to name his motto, it could well have been 'all is well'. Unfazed by the turbulence that may have surrounded him over last few months and undeterred by constant scrutiny around him, his films and their performance, Akshay is maintaining calm. Now even as his first release of 2011 - Patiala House - is just a few hours away, Akshay sounds composed and stable. On the eve of the release of this Nikhil Advani directed film, Akshay talks to Joginder Tuteja about what keeps him ticking and his endeavour to eliminate any negativity whatsoever from the industry.

“How can we blame people for being addicted to the bad” – Akshay Kumar

Seems like Patiala House is one of the classiest films to have come from the house of Akshay Kumar. ClichÃ©d as it may sound but do you feel that this film will finally shut the mouth of detractors who accuse you of 'always trying to be safe'?

Firstly thank you very much. As much as I would love any such negative or un-inspirational talk/gossip/accusations to stop, especially in the entertainment industry, it of course would be a blessing that many a hard working men would wish for. Sad, but I don't think it is going to happen though!

As always, I am going to bow my head and let the audience decide the fate and worth of my film

Why would you say that?

In reality, there are so many people out there who have the capability of turning a picnic sour. This is the reason why I wouldn't like to jump to any such wishful thinking & say that Patiala House will shut the mouths of my detractors. If anything, it would give them a reason to bite harder. So as always, I am going to bow my head and let the audience decide the fate and worth of my film though it would be nice if everyone else would allow that to happen also. But again, I am not the one to ask for so much in life (smiles).

After four back to back comedies - Housefull, Khatta Meetha, Action Replayy and Tees Maar Khan - this one at least looks like a different film of yours.

Absolutely, I couldn't agree more. As you can see, it has been a while since I have played such an intense family drama with a purpose like I do in Patiala House. Playing 'Gattu', I feel like I am portraying the real deal and actual circumstances in life. I am not playing a role; I am playing someone. The strength of this story is that it is powerful, emotional, inspiring, but most importantly, it's about families, the real patriotic ones, who want the best for their children no matter what the emotional cost may be.

In fact the father-son conflict in the film reminds me of your very own Ek Rishta which explored father-son relationship to the fullest. Would audience be seeing a new facet of such relationship being explored in Patiala House?

Very much so. Patiala House is about a very big family which has been living in London for three generations now. What makes matters difficult is that as a father and the head of the community, Rishiji is anti everything which is British.

Well, in real life quite a few seem to be anti-everything that you did in 2010 despite two commercial successes (Tees Maar Khan, Housefull), one fair grosser (Khatta Meetha) and one box office disappointment (Action Replayy). A fair record for someone who delivers 4 films a year at an average?

I am very pleased with last year's outcome and by God's grace; I have another enjoyable year ahead. I pray people would still like to enjoy the experience with me.

Negative energy is just another one of life's obstacles that doesn't affect me, only ticket sales do

At the end of the day, collectively the business of these films was around 200 crores just in India at an average of 50 crores per film. Why wasn't much noise made about this fact?

That's a very good point. Maybe it's the usual syndrome where only negative things are forced on people's face. It's called the 'SAD syndrome'. It has always amused me that how you never hear the wonderful things in life; you only hear about war, poverty, gossip and flops. Until we are prepared to talk about the good, how can we blame people for being addicted to the bad?

You are now starting off Joker with the same team of Tees Maar Khan. Is there any post-Tees Maar Khan learning which is being incorporated into Joker to make it one commercial blockbuster that everyone is keenly awaiting from you?

What goes on between a director and an actor is surely one conversation which not even my mother is aware about, so it is definitely not one for everyone to be involved in. At work one can always improve, learn, try harder and experience new boundaries. No one is perfect, not even the best of us.

Still, I am sure that somewhere deep in your heart, even you would have expected at least Tees Maar Khan to have done much better than what it eventually did, right?

I am sure it would have done better if given the chance or the opportunity to. But then the opening was so fantastic that I really am not going to feel down about anything. My duty is to pull the audience in and I successfully achieved that. I am a very happy man right now. Negative energy is just another one of life's obstacles that doesn't affect me, only ticket sales do (winks).