Akshay Kumar’s journey began in Old Delhi, India, to parents Hari Om Bhatia and Aruna Bhatia, part of a Punjabi Hindu family. Raised in a household where his father, an army officer, had a love for wrestling, Kumar developed a keen interest in sports from a young age. The family initially lived in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk before relocating to Bombay (Mumbai) when his father transitioned to a role as an accountant with UNICEF.

Educated at Don Bosco High School in Matunga, Kumar simultaneously pursued his passion for Karate. Despite enrolling in Guru Nanak Khalsa College, he found studies unappealing and expressed a stronger inclination toward martial arts. Supported by his father, Kumar embarked on a journey to Thailand to deepen his martial arts skills, spending five years there, specializing in Thai Boxing. Kumar also has a sister, Alka Bhatia.

During his formative years, Kumar’s dream of becoming an actor began to take shape. Having achieved a black belt in Taekwondo in India, he continued his martial arts training in Bangkok, where he learned Muay Thai. His professional journey included diverse experiences, from working as a chef and waiter in Calcutta, Dhaka, and Delhi.

Upon returning to Bombay, Kumar initially taught martial arts before stumbling into the world of modelling. A recommendation from a student’s father, a model coordinator, set him on a path that proved lucrative after an assignment for a furniture showroom. Kumar initially worked without pay as an assistant to photographer Jayesh Sheth and explored background dancing in films.

His initial screen appearance was in the film “Aaj” under his birth name ‘Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia.’ However, recognizing the need for a change, he adopted the name Akshay Kumar. The turning point in his career came when, disappointed after missing a flight for an ad shoot, Kumar visited a film studio with his portfolio and secured a lead role in the movie “Deedar,” courtesy of producer Pramod Chakravarthy.

In the year 2000, Akshay Kumar had a breakthrough with the comedy “Hera Pheri,” directed by Priyadarshan, alongside Paresh Rawal and Suneil Shetty. This film, a remake of the Malayalam movie “Ramji Rao Speaking,” became a commercial success, marking a turning point in Kumar’s career. “Hindustan Times” praised the film’s portrayal of the human condition and acknowledged Kumar’s versatile acting.

Later that year, Kumar starred in the romantic drama “Dhadkan,” receiving praise for his performance despite the film’s moderate box office performance.

The following year, 2001, showcased Kumar’s versatility with roles in the drama “Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love,” where he received acclaim for his performance, and the Abbas Mustan-directed “Ajnabee,” where he played a negative role, earning him his first Filmfare Award for Best Villain.

In 2002, Kumar continued to diversify his roles, playing a blind man in “Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya” and receiving critical acclaim for his part in the heist film “Aankhen.” He also appeared in the comedy “Awara Paagal Deewana.”

The year 2004 saw Kumar in Rajkumar Santoshi’s action drama thriller “Khakee,” where he played Inspector Shekhar Verma. The film and Kumar’s acting received positive reviews, earning him a nomination for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award.

Subsequent years brought a mix of successes and challenges. Films like “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi” and “Garam Masala” showcased Kumar’s comic timing, earning him accolades. However, releases like “Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani” faced negative reviews.

In 2005, Kumar appeared in the romantic drama “Bewafaa,” earning praise for his acting despite mixed reviews. The same year featured him in films like “Waqt: The Race Against Time” and “Garam Masala,” with the latter earning him the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian.

The prolific actor continued his career in 2006 with films like “Phir Hera Pheri,” a sequel to the successful “Hera Pheri,” and “Jaan-E-Mann,” a romantic musical. Despite the latter not meeting box office expectations, Kumar’s portrayal was lauded. The year concluded with the comedy murder mystery “Bhagam Bhag,” where Kumar’s role as a theatre actor earned him praise.

In 2006, Kumar also led the Heat 2006 world tour alongside other Bollywood stars, showcasing his popularity on a global stage.

2007–2011: Commercial success and professional setbacks

In 2007, Akshay Kumar had a stellar year, making it one of the best for any actor in Bollywood. He delivered four consecutive hits – “Namastey London,” “Heyy Babyy,” “Bhool Bhulaiyaa,” and “Welcome.” These films not only raked in the moolah but also garnered critical acclaim. His chemistry with Katrina Kaif in “Namastey London” was a big hit, earning him a Best Actor nomination at the Filmfare Awards.

The success streak continued in 2008 with “Tashan” and the blockbuster “Singh Is Kinng,” marking his comeback to Yash Raj Films. Not to forget, he made his small screen debut by hosting the popular show “Fear Factor – Khatron Ke Khiladi.”

However, 2009 was a mixed bag. “Chandni Chowk to China” and “Kambakkht Ishq” didn’t impress critics, but “Kambakkht Ishq” turned out to be an economic success. “Blue” and “De Dana Dan” had their share of polarized reviews.

Jumping to 2010, Kumar struck gold with the comedy “Housefull,” which had a phenomenal opening weekend. Yet, “Khatta Meetha” and “Action Replayy” faced criticism, and “Tees Maar Khan” didn’t fare well with the critics.

In 2011, he brought his charm to “Patiala House,” “Thank You,” and “Desi Boyz.” Additionally, he co-produced “Breakaway,” a cross-cultural hit in Canada. What’s more, Kumar lent his voice for Optimus Prime in the Hindi version of “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” doing it for his son, Aarav, without taking a penny. Quite the dad move, don’t you think?

2012–2019: Other critical and commercial success

Back in 2013, he started strong with “Special 26,” which got a thumbs up from critics and did okay at the box office. People thought it could’ve done even better, given the cool storyline and Akshay’s charm. Then came the gangster flick “Once Upon ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara!” – it got mixed reviews, and unfortunately, it didn’t set the cash registers ringing.

But hey, 2014 was the year Akshay roared back to life! “Boss” had a mixed bag of reviews, but things turned around with “Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty.” This action-packed drama not only got a nod from critics but also smashed the box office, becoming the top-grossing film of the year.

Rolling into 2015, he joined forces with Karan Johar for “Brothers” and followed it up with the quirky “Singh is Bling.” Both added to his Bollywood repertoire.

Fast forward to 2016 – Akshay was on fire! “Airlift” and “Housefull 3” were hits, and then came “Rustom,” making more than 2 billion bucks and earning him the National Film Award for Best Actor. Talk about a winning streak!

In 2017, he took on a real-world issue in “Toilet: Ek Prem Katha” – a film about sanitation. Even the big guy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave it a thumbs up for promoting cleanliness.

Then, in 2018, Akshay got all socially conscious again with “Pad Man,” tackling menstrual hygiene. He also made his Tamil debut in the sci-fi thriller “2.0.”

2019 was a blockbuster year! “Kesari” made history, “Mission Mangal” took us to Mars, “Housefull 4” brought the laughs, and “Good Newwz” wrapped up the year on a high note. Four films, all hitting it big – that’s how you cap off a decade! Akshay was definitely the man of the hour, or shall we say, the man of the decade!

Personal life

Back in the late ’90s, Akshay Kumar and actress Raveena Tandon were the talk of the town. Can you believe it? They were even engaged, but as Bollywood love stories go, theirs took a different turn.

Then came 2001, the year Akshay found his forever love in Twinkle Khanna, daughter of the legendary Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia. They said their “I dos” on January 17 and today, they’re rocking parenthood with a son and a daughter. Akshay, the superhero dad, prefers keeping his kiddos away from the glitz and glam of the media circus. It’s all about that “normal childhood” vibe.

But wait, life isn’t always a Bollywood romance! In 2009, at a Levis show during Lakme Fashion Week, Akshay decided to spice things up a bit. He asked Twinkle to unbutton his jeans, and oh boy, did that make headlines! The buzz was so real that a police case was thrown into the mix – now that’s what we call a bold fashion statement!

Now, let’s talk about Akshay’s spiritual journey. There was a time when he was all about that Shaiva Hindu life, visiting shrines and temples, including the famous Vaishno Devi Mandir. But hold on, here comes the plot twist! In March 2020, he dropped a bombshell – “I don’t believe in any religion. I only believe in being Indian.” Well, there you have it – Akshay Kumar, keeping it real, on-screen and off!