Akshay Kumar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Akshay Kumar
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Kumar in 2019
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| Born |
Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia
9 September 1967 Delhi, India
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| Years active | 1991–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Twinkle Khanna
(m. 2001) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Khanna family (by marriage) |
| Awards | Full list |
| Honours | Padma Shri (2009) |
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Akshay Kumar (born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia on September 9, 1967) is a famous Indian actor and film producer. He works mainly in Hindi cinema. People often call him "Khiladi Kumar" because of his action roles.
Akshay Kumar has been acting for over 30 years. He has appeared in more than 150 films. He has won many awards, including two National Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards. In 2009, the Indian government gave him the Padma Shri. This is one of India's highest civilian honors. Forbes magazine listed him as one of the world's highest-paid celebrities and actors from 2015 to 2020.
He started his career in 1991 with the film Saugandh. His first big success was the action thriller Khiladi in 1992. This film made him known as an action star. He then starred in many other action films and comedies. Akshay Kumar is also known for his social films that highlight important issues.
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Early Life and Background
Akshay Kumar was born on September 9, 1967, in Old Delhi, India. His birth name was Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia. His father was an army officer. From a young age, Akshay was very interested in sports and martial arts.
His family later moved to Mumbai. He went to Don Bosco High School, Matunga and also learned Karate. He started college but left because he wanted to focus on martial arts. His father helped him go to Bangkok, Thailand, where he trained in Muay Thai for five years.
After returning to India, he taught martial arts. One of his student's fathers, who was a model coordinator, suggested he try modeling. Akshay found that modeling paid much better than his previous jobs. This led him to pursue a career in entertainment. He changed his name to Akshay Kumar after a character in a film.
Film Career Highlights
Akshay Kumar's acting journey began in 1991. He quickly became known for his action-packed roles.
Becoming an Action Star
His film Khiladi in 1992 was a big hit. It made him famous as an action hero. He then starred in several films with "Khiladi" in the title, like Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994) and Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996). These films were very popular. He also showed his acting skills in romantic films like Yeh Dillagi (1994).
Expanding His Roles
In the 2000s, Akshay Kumar started doing different kinds of roles. He became very popular for his comedy films. Some of his successful comedies include Hera Pheri (2000), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), and Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007). He also acted in romantic films like Dhadkan (2000) and Namastey London (2007). He even won an award for playing a negative role in Ajnabee.
Continued Success and Social Films
From 2007, Akshay Kumar had many big hits. Films like Namastey London, Heyy Babyy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, and Welcome were all very successful. He continued to deliver hits like Rowdy Rathore (2012) and Holiday (2014).
He also started making films that focused on important social messages. Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017) highlighted the need for toilets. Pad Man (2018) was about menstrual hygiene. These films were praised for their strong messages. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role in Rustom (2016).
In 2019, he had a fantastic year with four major hits: Kesari, Mission Mangal, Housefull 4, and Good Newwz. These films were very popular and earned a lot of money. His 2021 film Sooryavanshi was also a big box office success.
Recent Career
In 2022, some of his films like Bachchhan Paandey and Samrat Prithviraj did not do as well as expected. However, in 2023, OMG 2 became a hit. He continued to work on various projects, including Mission Raniganj and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.
In 2025, his career saw a positive turn. Films like Sky Force and Kesari Chapter 2 performed well. Housefull 5, a comedy with many actors, also became a commercial success.
Other Work and Interests
Besides acting, Akshay Kumar has done many other things.
Television Shows
He has hosted several popular TV shows. In 2008, he started hosting Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi, a stunt reality show. He hosted four seasons of this show. In 2011, he hosted MasterChef India, a cooking competition. He also hosted Dare 2 Dance in 2014, where dancers performed stunts.
Fitness and Sports
Akshay Kumar is very passionate about fitness and martial arts. He practices kickboxing, basketball, swimming, and Parkour. He even received a sixth-degree black belt in Kuyukai Gōjū-ryū karate. He has also opened martial arts training schools for women's safety. He owns a team called Khalsa Warriors in the World Kabaddi League.
Social Work and Charity
Akshay Kumar is known for his generous donations and support for various charities. He is one of India's most giving celebrities.
- He has donated money to help farmers affected by drought in Maharashtra.
- He supports the families of soldiers who have died serving the country through the Bharat Ke Veer app.
- He donated to build a shelter for transgender persons in Chennai.
- He actively promotes the Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Campaign) and the importance of building toilets.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, he donated a large sum to the PM CARES Fund and other charities.
- He has also donated for school construction in Jammu and Kashmir.
Personal Life
Akshay Kumar is married to actress Twinkle Khanna, the daughter of famous actors Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia. They got married on January 17, 2001. They have two children, a son named Aarav and a daughter named Nitara. Akshay Kumar is known for being a protective father and keeping his children away from the media spotlight. He wants them to have a normal childhood.
For many years, Akshay Kumar held Canadian citizenship. However, in August 2023, he confirmed that he had received his Indian citizenship back and given up his Canadian citizenship, as required by Indian law.
In the Media
Akshay Kumar is a very popular figure in Indian media. He is often called "Khiladi Kumar" because of his action films and his willingness to perform dangerous stunts himself.
He has been featured in Forbes magazine's list of highest-paid actors several times. In 2019, he was the fourth highest-paid actor in the world. He was also the only Indian actor in the top 10 list in 2020.
Akshay Kumar is also a leading celebrity endorser for many brands in India. He has a huge fan following not only in India but also among the Indian diaspora and in other countries. He holds a Guinness World Records for taking the most selfies in three minutes.
Awards and Recognition
Akshay Kumar has received many awards for his acting.
- He won two Filmfare Awards: Best Villain for Ajnabee (2002) and Best Comedian for Garam Masala (2006).
- He received the National Film Award for Best Actor for his roles in Rustom and Airlift (both in 2016).
- In 2008, the University of Windsor gave him an honorary Doctorate of Law.
- In 2009, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri.
- In 2011, The Asian Awards recognized his outstanding achievements in cinema.
See also
In Spanish: Akshay Kumar para niños
