The latest episode of Wheel of Fortune India featured an emotional and inspiring moment as host Akshay Kumar reflected on the struggles of filmmaking while interacting with the team behind the Gujarati blockbuster Laalo.
The episode began on a soulful note with Akshay making a special entry while playing the Krishna flute, creating a serene atmosphere on stage. He then welcomed the film’s cast, including Shruhad Goswami, Reeva Rachh, and Karan Joshi, along with the film’s director Ankit Sakhiya.
While introducing them, Akshay shared the remarkable journey behind the film and spoke about how the team created the project despite limited resources. Speaking about their determination, he told the audience, “Lekin unke paas paise nahi the, actors kaise hire kare, cameras kahan se leke aaye, costume ka kharcha kaise kare. In sawaalon ke bawajood inhone haar nahi maani, 1 dost se camera udhaar liya, 2 doston ko acting karne ko kaha, aur ek hi location par uss camera ke saath poori ki poori film banana shuru kar di. Aur phir kya, phir aisa kamaal ho gaya ki yeh film Gujarati film industry ki sab se, sab se badi blockbuster ban gayi. Jisne 100 cr bhi paar kar diye, aur aapko pata hai yeh film kitne mein bani thi, sirf Rs. 48 lakhs (But they didn’t have any money. How would they hire actors, where would they get cameras from, and how would they cover the cost of costumes? Despite all these questions, they didn’t give up. They borrowed a camera from one friend, asked two friends to act in the film, and at a single location, with that one camera, they started shooting the entire film. And then what happened next was incredible — the film went on to become the biggest blockbuster in the Gujarati film industry. It even crossed Rs. 100 crore, and do you know how much the film was made for? Just Rs. 48 lakhs).”
Later during the conversation, the mood turned reflective as Akshay spoke about the difficult early days after the film’s release. He mentioned that the movie initially struggled at the box office and was close to being removed from theatres within a few weeks. Responding to this, Ankit Sakhiya explained that he and his team would visit theatres every morning to interact with the small number of viewers watching the film. Although the reactions were emotional and positive, the empty seats remained a painful reality.
Akshay then revealed the extraordinary effort made by the director to keep the film alive. He said, “Ye logon ko paise dete the ki jaao meri film dekho. Ye lo, main ticket deta hoon. Agar acchi lage toh jaake apne doston ko batana (He used to give people money and tell them, ‘Go watch my film. Here, I’ll buy you a ticket. And if you like it, then go and tell your friends about it).”
The conversation soon turned personal for the actor, who shared a touching memory from his own career. Drawing a parallel with Ankit’s dedication, Akshay said, “Main aapko ek baat batana chahta hoon ki yeh cheez aur mere mein kya common hain (I want to tell you something about what this and I have in common).” He continued, “Mere father, jab tak woh zinda the, unki death 2000 mein huyi thi. Tab tak mere jo bhi films release hoti thi, woh logon ko pakad pakad kar le jaate the aur meri film unhe dikhate the. Har film unhone mere 18 se 20 baar dekhi hogi (My father, until he was alive—he passed away in 2000—whenever any of my films were released, he would literally take people along and make them watch my films. He must have watched each of my films around 18 to 20 times).”
Reflecting on the emotional moment, Akshay noted that while his father’s actions came from unconditional love, the dedication shown by Ankit and his team stemmed from their passion for cinema. Speaking about the lessons from the film’s journey, Ankit added, “Ek hi baat sikhai hain, jo hum discuss karte rehte the, agar kuch karna hain toh nikalna padega (There’s only one thing this journey taught us — something we kept discussing among ourselves: if you want to achieve something, you have to step out and make it happen).”
He also shared that the film was shot in just 40 days and that several of his college friends came forward to support the project financially. According to him, nearly 15 producers were involved, many of whom contributed their savings to ensure the film could be completed.
The conversation ended on an uplifting note, with Akshay praising the team’s perseverance and the strong bond of friendship behind the project. The episode highlighted how belief, collaboration, and determination can transform even a modest beginning into an extraordinary success story.
Wheel of Fortune airs Monday to Friday at 9:00 PM on Sony Entertainment Television and is also available for streaming on SonyLIV.
Also Read: Akshay Kumar on his closeness with stuntmen, “I consider myself a stuntman first and then an actor”
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