The Hindu Business Line : Rising superstar

The competition among Bollywood heroes of the past was often between the Kumars and Kapoors, while today the industry has seen the Khans' long reign at the top. But there is another actor who is climbing the success ladder fast — Akshay Kumar. The industry views him a potential No 1. How else would you explain his signing a four-film bulk deal with Adlabs Films, in which Reliance Captial has a 51 per cent stake?

This is Bollywood's first bulk-deal involving an actor, though Yash Raj Films had signed multiple deals with promising directors. In fact, Adlabs has a 12-film deal with producer-director Ram Gopal Varma too. A bulk deal has its own advantages — the security of a big, steady income to creative people who are ready to offer preferential dates in bulk. Of course, there is considerable risk too. But what if a star, who signs a bulk deal, suffers two or three flops in a row and his box-office lure goes down?

A legitimate question, but Bollywood producers are confident that Akshay can deliver the goods. He has the experience, has risen from the ranks and can handle action roles better than most. Today, the star is on a high. An actor becomes truly saleable when he excels both in action and comic roles. Akshay has passed this test with flying colours. An `action' star in his earlier films, from Khakhee he also began to display a comic streak, which was original and most welcome. But he is yet to be tested on highly emotional roles.

Many of his recent films have done well at the box office. Mujhse Shaadi Karoge, Aitraaz, Garam Masala and Humko Deewana Kar Gaye raked in profits particularly at the multiplexes.

Though Akshay, who worked in Bangkok restaurants while learning martial arts, had been labelled a `stunt' actor earlier, his Khiladi films and the huge success of Hera Pheri, with Suneil Shetty and Paresh Raval, pushed him high on the popularity list. The star has signed some interesting films now, the most notable being Rituparno Ghosh's Rahgeer, based on R.K. Narayan's The Guide, earlier filmed by Dev Anand for his Nav Ketan banner. This highly emotional role will be a real test for Akshay. Other important films are Priyadarshan's Bhaagam Bhaag and the sequel to Hera Pheri, Phir Hera Pheri.

Many industry watchers feel that Akshay is just one step away from super stardom and this will come to him when he signs films with producers like Karan Johar and Yash Chopra. So far, these two camps have stuck to Shah Rukh Khan and provided Salman Khan with juicy `special appearances'. Aamir Khan too has his own big banners. Audiences are able to relate to Akshay because of his boy-next-door looks. One of the most physically-fit stars, his stunt scenes have an air of realism and appeal to teenage male audiences. Marriage to Twinkle Khanna and fatherhood have brought about an air of stability and responsibility in his personal life, enabling him to concentrate on his career.