Actor Akshay Kumar recently spoke about the influence of Hindi cinema legends Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna on his life, revealing that while Bachchan inspires him as an actor, the biggest lessons he learned from his father-in-law came from observing his mistakes and experiences.
During an interaction with India Today, Akshay was asked to name actors who had inspired him the most. The actor cited Bachchan along with veterans Sanjeev Kumar and Mehmood. However, when asked why he did not mention Khanna, widely regarded as Hindi cinema’s first superstar, Akshay offered a candid explanation. “I have learnt a lot from my father-in-law. I learnt from him what not to do,” Akshay said. “He used to actually sit me down and tell me about all the mistakes that he had done. He was the number one superstar that India had seen.”
Khanna dominated the Hindi film industry in the late 1960s and early 1970s with an unprecedented string of hits and an immense fan following. However, his career later saw a decline as the industry transitioned into a new era marked by the rise of actors like Amitabh Bachchan. Akshay suggested that the conversations he had with Khanna about success and failure left a lasting impression on him.
The actor also shared a personal memory from his childhood that connects him to Khanna long before he became part of the family. Recalling his early fascination with the star, he said, “When I was 7–8 years old, I would pass Carter Road with my father. Me and my parents used to stand outside Rajesh Khanna’s bungalow Aashirwad, and my father would make me sit on his shoulders just to get a glimpse of him.”Reflecting on how life came full circle, Akshay added, “This is kismat. I never imagined that his daughter would be my wife,” referring to his marriage to Twinkle Khanna.
Through these reflections, the actor highlighted how both inspiration and cautionary lessons from iconic stars helped shape his own perspective on fame and longevity in Bollywood.
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