‘I Just Want To Be A Good Human Being’- Akshay Kumar’s Journey From Martial Arts To Films (1994)
Akshay Kumar is celebrating his 57th birthday today. The Khiladi Actor is set to star in Priyadarshan’s Bhooth Bangla for his next cinematic venture. To mark his birthday, here’s a flashback interview where Akshay talks about his career and film journey while shooting for Suhaag.
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00:00A film's hero is basically a script.
00:03If your script is not strong, you can't do anything.
00:07Many people ask me this question.
00:09Would you like to be an actor, a star or an action hero?
00:13I prefer giving an answer. I just want to be a good human being.
00:16See, I'm in this in line just with one motto.
00:20That is, believing in God is living life with confidence.
00:24Do that and you'll always be successful.
00:31Mr. Akshay, when did you decide to become an actor?
00:37I had never taken this decision.
00:40This decision, you can call it a coincidence, came by itself.
00:44Basically, should I tell you how it happened?
00:50I used to teach martial arts.
00:54One of my students came to me and said,
00:58Sir, why don't you do modelling?
01:01You have height, body and physique.
01:03Why don't you try for it?
01:05I didn't know what modelling was.
01:08I said, what do I have to do for that?
01:11He said, take a photograph and give it to me.
01:14So I took a photograph for the first time.
01:17I posed like this and I gave it to him.
01:22And within about 2-3 weeks after that, I got an assignment.
01:27And that assignment I was paid about Rs. 3,500.
01:30And the work I did for a month, I used to get only Rs. 4,000.
01:34And these two hours, just standing in a pose and getting Rs. 3,000, Rs. 3,500,
01:39I felt something strange.
01:41And then I got attracted to this line.
01:45Then I went to films for modelling.
01:48And the rest is history.
01:51You didn't have to struggle as much as others did.
01:56No, to be frank enough, I didn't have to struggle.
02:00My struggle was not for this line, it was different.
02:04When you make films, who do you want to credit for its success?
02:10The hero of a film is basically the script.
02:13If your script is not strong, you can't do anything.
02:17The first credit I always give it to the script writer who has made the script.
02:22And then comes the captain of the ship who has directed that script.
02:26Who has directed that ship.
02:28According to this, he has taken it.
02:31And... I am coming, I am coming.
02:34And then comes the producer.
02:38According to this, he builds up his product.
02:43Then comes us and all other aspects.
02:48Would you like to present yourself as an action hero in front of the audience?
02:57Many people ask me this question.
02:59Would you like to become an actor, a star or an action hero?
03:03I prefer giving an answer. I just want to be a good human being.
03:06So that they say, okay, here he is. He is a nice man. That's all.
03:11Tell me any of your three qualities that are good about you.
03:16See that, always these kind of things you...
03:21My colleagues, my co-stars or my directors can tell you better.
03:27If you want, I will bring my director. Make him sit and ask him.
03:32Which director has explored your talent the best?
03:38Like I told you, script is the main thing.
03:41If you get a good script, everything comes out well.
03:44If the script is not good, then the picture doesn't work.
03:50As far as acting is concerned...
03:56From my first film, Sovan, till today, I am working hard on myself.
04:04What do you want?
04:07Just like you need training in martial arts, do you need training in acting as well?
04:15I can tell you that I have not taken any training.
04:18I came to this film industry raw.
04:21None of my forefathers belonged to this industry.
04:25I am just on my own. I just have one man to be.
04:28But he is with me. That is Mr. Pramod Chakravarty and his whole family.
04:33And I have nobody else.
04:38Who is your inspiration?
04:43See, I would give an inspiration to a person who inspires me a lot.
04:46I would give his even living lifestyle also.
04:49That is Mr. Denny Denzopa.
04:52I like the way the person acts, his lifestyle, his way of living,
04:57his meeting with people, his pure magic of words.
05:02I am a nice man too.
05:07A hero works even after getting married.
05:11Whereas a heroine does not work after marriage.
05:14What do you have to say about this?
05:17I don't think so it is like that.
05:19But basically what happens is after when a heroine gets married,
05:22she either stops working or her husband says stop working.
05:28So these are the basic kind of things what happens.
05:32That is why she goes away, she leaves this industry and goes away.
05:35That's what I have seen in this industry.
05:38For four and a half years I have been seeing.
05:40That's what I have seen.
05:41I think she can still carry on. Why not?
05:44She can easily carry on.
05:48To maintain her figure and be perfect, good looking.
05:52After all she is a heroine. She can carry on.
05:55She has been carrying on since so many years.
05:57So what is marriage? Marriage is just being together.
06:00And after work is aside, she can still carry on.
06:03And there are many heroines, after marriage also,
06:06when I see them, they still maintain themselves so well.
06:09According to you, who would you call a complete film?
06:18A film which entertains the public for at least two and a half hours.
06:23And when they come out, they really say,
06:27Let's go father, we have collected Rs. 10.
06:30That is a complete film.
06:31When this dialogue comes out of the film, that's a complete film.
06:35What would you like to say to your fans or viewers?
06:39See, I have been this in line, just with one motto.
06:43That is, believing in God is living life with confidence.
06:48Do that and you will always be successful.