Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar – Biography

• Full Name: Akshay Hari Om Bhatia
• Birth Name: Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia
• Born: 9 September 1967, Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi, India
• Age: 58 years (as of 2026)
• Nickname: Khiladi Kumar
• Profession: Actor, film producer, television presenter
• Industry: Bollywood (Hindi Film Industry)
• Years Active: 1991 – Present
• Citizenship: India (1967–2011 and 2023–present); Canada (2011–2023)

Family

• Spouse: Twinkle Khanna, married 17 January 2001
• Children: Aarav (born 2002) and Nitara (born 2012)
• Parents: Hari Om Bhatia, an Indian Army officer who later worked as an accountant with UNICEF, and Aruna Bhatia
• In-laws: Rajesh Khanna (father-in-law), Dimple Kapadia (mother-in-law)
• Sister: Alka Bhatia

Trademarks

• Performs many of his own stunts, which earned him the nickname “Khiladi Kumar”
• Martial arts-oriented action roles
• Slapstick comic performances
• One of the most prolific actors in Indian cinema, with over 150 film appearances

Trivia Highlights

• Worked as a chef and a waiter in Bangkok before entering films.
• Obtained a black belt in Taekwondo in India, learned Karate at school, and trained in Muay Thai in Bangkok.
• In 2009 he received the Japanese honour “Katana” and a sixth-degree black belt in Kuyukai Gōjū-ryū karate.
• Won the Filmfare Best Villain award for Ajnabee (2001) and the Filmfare Best Comedian award for Garam Masala (2005).
• Honoured with the Padma Shri (2009), India’s fourth-highest civilian award.
• Received an honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Windsor, Canada, in 2008.
• Named “Sexiest Man Alive” by People (India) magazine in 2008.
• Founded the production company Hari Om Entertainment in 2008 and Grazing Goat Pictures in 2011; he also produces through Cape of Good Films.
• Featured in Forbes lists of the highest-paid celebrities and highest-paid actors in the world from 2015 to 2020.

Early Life & Family

Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia, professionally known as Akshay Kumar, was born on 9 September 1967 in the Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi into a Punjabi Hindu family, to Hari Om Bhatia and Aruna Bhatia. His father was an Indian Army officer who later left the Army to work as an accountant with UNICEF, and the family moved to Bombay, settling in Koliwada. (Britannica gives his birthplace as Amritsar, the city his father’s family came from.)

Education & Martial Arts Training

He was schooled at Don Bosco High School in Matunga, where he simultaneously learned Karate, and enrolled at Guru Nanak Khalsa College of the University of Mumbai before dropping out. He then asked his father to send him to Thailand, and lived in Bangkok for five years learning Muay Thai while working as a chef and a waiter. He had already obtained a black belt in Taekwondo in India.

Entry into Modeling & Films

After Thailand he worked in Calcutta at a travel agency, in Dhaka as a hotel chef, and in Delhi selling Kundan jewellery, before returning to Bombay to teach martial arts. The father of one of his students recommended him for modelling, which led to an assignment for a furniture showroom. He assisted photographer Jayesh Sheth for 18 months to build his first portfolio and worked as a background dancer. His first screen appearance was a small role as a karate instructor in Aaj (1987), and he adopted the stage name Akshay Kumar, inspired by a Kumar Gaurav character.

Acting Career & Breakthrough

Akshay Kumar made his debut in a leading role with Saugandh (1991). His breakthrough came the following year with the Abbas–Mustan thriller Khiladi (1992), which established him as an action star and led to the Khiladi film series.

Versatility & Acclaimed Performances

Over time he expanded his range across action, comedy, romance and socially themed dramas. Films for which his work drew particular acclaim include:

• OMG – Oh My God! (2012)
• Special 26 (2013)
• Baby (2015)
• Airlift (2016)
• Rustom (2016), which won him the National Film Award for Best Actor.
• Jolly LLB 2 (2017)

Personal Life

Akshay Kumar married Twinkle Khanna, the daughter of actors Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia, on 17 January 2001. They have a son, Aarav, born in 2002, and a daughter, Nitara, born in 2012.

Citizenship

Kumar was granted Canadian citizenship around 2011. In December 2019 he said he had applied for an Indian passport and intended to give up his Canadian citizenship, and on 15 August 2023 he confirmed that he had regained Indian citizenship and renounced his Canadian citizenship as Indian law requires.

Akshay Kumar’s career highlights

Early Career & Breakthrough (1991–1994):

• Debuted in a leading role with Saugandh (1991).
• Broke through with Khiladi (1992), the first film of the Khiladi series.
• Appeared in 11 films in 1994, including the successes Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Mohra, Suhaag, Elaan and the romance Yeh Dillagi, which brought him his first Filmfare Best Actor nomination.

Establishing the “Khiladi” Image (1995–1999):

• Continued the series with Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995) and Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996), both commercial successes.
• Played a supporting role in Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), earning his first Filmfare Best Supporting Actor nomination, and starred in Mr. and Mrs. Khiladi (1997).
• Sangharsh (1999) and Jaanwar (1999) marked his comeback after a run of commercial failures.

Transition to Comedy & Versatility (2000–2007):

• Moved beyond action with Hera Pheri (2000) and the romance Dhadkan (2000).
• Won the Filmfare Best Villain award for his negative role in Ajnabee (2001).
• Followed with Andaaz (2003), Aitraaz (2004), Khakee (2004), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Garam Masala (2005), Bhagam Bhag (2006), Phir Hera Pheri (2006) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007).

Critical Acclaim & Recognition (2008–2016):

• 2007 was his most successful year to that point, with Namastey London, Heyy Babyy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Welcome; Singh Is Kinng followed in 2008.
• Rowdy Rathore, Housefull 2 and Khiladi 786 (all 2012) restored his box-office standing, and Rowdy Rathore and Housefull 2 were his first films to enter the 100 Crore Club.
• Moved into more critically regarded work with OMG – Oh My God! (2012), Special 26 (2013), Holiday (2014), Baby (2015), Airlift (2016) and Rustom (2016), which won him the National Film Award for Best Actor.

Socially Relevant Cinema & Patriotism (2017–2020):

• Self-produced the social dramas Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017) and Pad Man (2018); Pad Man won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues.
• Made his Tamil debut in a negative role in the science-fiction film 2.0 (2018).
• Delivered four films that each crossed ₹200 crore in 2019: Kesari, Mission Mangal, Housefull 4 and Good Newwz.

Recent Work (2021–Present)

• Starred in Sooryavanshi (2021), a major commercial success.
• Went through a commercial decline from 2022 to mid-2025, with releases including Bachchhan Paandey, Samrat Prithviraj, Raksha Bandhan and Ram Setu (all 2022), Selfiee and Mission Raniganj (2023), and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Sarfira and Khel Khel Mein (2024).
• OMG 2 (2023) was the main exception, becoming a box-office hit.
• Sarfira (2024) earned him a Filmfare Best Actor nomination despite failing commercially.
• Released Sky Force and Kesari Chapter 2 in 2025, both well reviewed but unprofitable, followed by the moderately successful Housefull 5 and Jolly LLB 3.
• The 2026 horror comedy Bhooth Bangla, directed by Priyadarshan, became his first clear hit since OMG 2, grossing over ₹230 crore worldwide.

Current & Upcoming Projects

• Welcome to the Jungle – Due in 2026, with Kumar in a double role.
• Haiwaan – A Priyadarshan film co-starring Saif Ali Khan; shooting wrapped in Mumbai in December 2025 and the film is complete, awaiting release.
• Untitled Anees Bazmee comedy – In filming, reuniting him with Vidya Balan.
• Vedat Marathe Veer Daudle Saat – A Marathi film in which he plays Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj; in post-production, targeted for 2027.
• Golmaal 5 – Announced in March 2026, with Kumar joining Ajay Devgn and the returning cast; currently filming.

Akshay Kumar Awards List