From serving food to serving hits, Akshay Kumar came a long way!
The ‘Khiladi Kumar’ of Bollywood, Akshay Kumar, turns 58 today, and his fitness continues to set benchmarks. With a career spanning more than three decades and over 150 films, he has seamlessly dabbled in every genre, be it comedy, action, or romance. Kumar began his journey in 1991 with ‘Saugandh’ and rose to fame the very next year with the action thriller ‘Khiladi’. Like every actor, his career saw its share of highs and lows, but his box-office dominance peaked in 2007 when he delivered four consecutive hits. Beyond the silver screen, however, lies a fascinating chapter of his life. Did you know Akshay once worked as a chef in Bangkok before stepping into stardom? Let’s dive into his story in detail.
Akshay Kumar’s father served in the Indian Army, and the family initially lived in Delhi before moving to Mumbai (then Bombay) when his father left the forces to work as an accountant. From a young age, Akshay displayed a deep interest in sports, a passion he inherited from his father, who enjoyed wrestling.
Though he completed his schooling in Bombay, Akshay dropped out of college to pursue martial arts in Thailand. He spent five years in Bangkok training in Muay Thai, after earning a black belt in Taekwondo back in India.
It was during this period that he worked as a chef and waiter in Bangkok to make ends meet. His journey didn’t stop there; he later worked at a travel agency in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and as a chef in a hotel in Dhaka. On returning to Bombay, he began teaching martial arts, a decision that would unexpectedly change the course of his life.
One of his student’s fathers, a model coordinator, recommended him for a modeling assignment, which soon landed him work for a furniture showroom. The pay was so rewarding that Akshay made in just two days what he would otherwise earn in a month. This prompted him to shift to modeling, followed by stints as a photographer’s assistant and background dancer.
Eventually, he landed his first on-screen role in the film ‘Aaj’ and from there, his journey in cinema truly began.
Akshay Kumar’s story is a true example of rising from scratch, proving that perseverance and hard work can turn even the most modest beginnings into extraordinary success.
