Meet actor who dropped out of college, entered B’wood due to missed flight, and is now one of highest-paid celebs, often compared to Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan

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Discover the story of an actor whose life transformed from abandoning college, working as a chef and waiter, into an inspiring saga that’s far from over. Overcoming early obstacles, a missed flight set him on the path to Bollywood stardom, where he now stands among the highest-earning actors in the industry. Often likened to legends such as Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, this superstar’s meteoric rise is a shining example of determination. Can you figure out who it might be?

Akshay Kumar, formerly known as Akshay Hari Om Bhatia, is undeniably a renowned figure in Bollywood, both as an actor and producer. His life story is one of remarkable transformation. Raised in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, he later shifted to Mumbai, where his father, who was once an army officer, took up an accountant role with UNICEF. Kumar’s youth was marked by a passion for sports and martial arts, fueled by his father’s enthusiasm for wrestling.

Instead of opting for an academic path, he decided to leave college with the backing of his father. His true passion lay in martial arts, specifically Thai Boxing, which led him to relocate to Thailand for five years of rigorous training. To make ends meet during this time, he took on roles as a chef and waiter in Bangkok.

Following his return to India, the actor known from Sky Force took up diverse jobs across various cities. These roles included peddling Kundan jewelry in Delhi and working at a travel agency in Calcutta (today’s Kolkata). His big break in the film industry happened when he missed a flight for an ad shoot in Bangalore, causing him to bring his portfolio to a movie studio instead. That very night, producer Pramod Chakravarthy offered him the lead role in Deedar.

Akshay’s career had its ups and downs, but towards the end of the 2000s, he saw a significant increase in success with consecutive films like Rowdy Rathore (released in 2012) and Holiday (2014). Apart from acting, Akshay is renowned for his martial arts abilities and has participated in numerous TV shows, including Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi and Dare 2 Dance.

Acknowledging his significant impact on Indian film industry, Kumar was honored with the Padma Shri in the year 2009. His commercial triumphs placed him on Forbes’ global list of highest-paid celebrities from 2015 to 2020, making him the sole Indian actor featured on that list during those years, and he remained the only Indian actor included on both lists from 2019 to 2020.

Initially, there were disputes in his private life when the Canadian government bestowed citizenship upon him, disregarding residency requirements. In 2019, he declared his plans to relinquish this Canadian citizenship and pursue an Indian passport instead. By August 2023, it was verified that he had successfully regained his Indian nationality, as his Canadian citizenship was rescinded in compliance with Indian law.

Akshay Kumar’s private life was often under scrutiny as well. In the late ’90s, his romance with actress Raveena Tandon made headlines, but their engagement didn’t lead to marriage. Later, in 2001, he tied the knot with actress Twinkle Khanna, and together they have two children.

Akshay Kumar has just appeared in the movie “Sky Force,” sharing screen time with Veer Pahariya and Sara Ali Khan. This film officially premiered in cinemas on January 24, and it’s garnering favorable comments not only from fans but also from critics.

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2025-01-24 17:08