Akshay Kumar: ‘Sangharsh’ changed my perspective as an actor

He might have chosen acting as his career just for money, but actor Akshay Kumar says as time passed he stared becoming an “extremely passionate actor” – and this change was brought into his life by 1999 film “Sangharsh”.

“Honestly, I just feel I am lucky and blessed to be here. Initially, I didn’t take my job seriously. I used to do films for money,” Akshay, who has been a part of the Indian entertainment industry for over 25 years, said in a statement.

“When I assured myself of a decent bank balance, that’s when I started taking risks. If I recollect, I guess Sangharsh changed my perspective as an actor. I started to love what I do and now I am an extremely passionate actor,” he added.

Akshay, who was last seen onscreen in 2016 crime thriller “Rustom”, says wearing a naval officer’s uniform in the Tinu Suresh Desai directorial, “instilled a special emotion” in his mind.

“I think a uniform has that effect. I got that opportunity in a couple of films and it’s a feeling I can’t really explain. In ‘Rustom’ also, when I used to wear the uniform with all the medals and badges, it instilled a special emotion, an emotion of responsibility, of selfless service,” Akshay said.

“I felt like I am walking with a sense of pride. In fact, in some courtroom scenes in ‘Rustom’, I am not walking in my usual style but just gliding. That’s what the uniform does to you. I keep telling people whenever you see a guy in a uniform please click a selfie, make him feel special. It was a great honour to wear a Navy uniform in this film,” he added.

Further talking about Rustom, which will be premiered on &pictures on the occasion of Republic Day on Thursday, Akshay said: “‘Rustom’ is a very well made and well presented film. Being inspired from a couple of real life events we really tried hard to weave in the narrative together.

“There is a certain sense of relatability with movies that are close to life. Such a film needs to reflect believability staying within the liberties of filmmaking.