Akshay Kumar has 'never read a book' despite wife Twinkle Khanna being a bestselling author: 'Main chehre padhta hoon'

Bollywood star Akshay Kumar made a surprising revelation on an upcoming episode of the quiz reality show ‘Wheel of Fortune’. Despite being married to bestselling author Twinkle Khanna, the actor admitted he has never read a book in his life, choosing instead to “read people.” His candid honesty instantly struck a chord with viewers and the studio audience alike.

The moment unfolded during his interaction with contestant Yash. Sharing his unusual habit, Akshay said, “Aapko pata hai maine zindagi mein aaj tak ek bhi kitab nahi padhi hai. Main chehre padhta hoon. Sach bataun, meri wife writer hain aur mujhe lagta hai woh din mein ek kitab zaroor padhti hain. By God, maine ek bhi kitab nahi padhi. Maine sirf chehre padhe hain. Sach kehta hoon, chehre se badiya kitab koi nahi hoti.” (You know, I haven’t read even a single book in my life. I read faces. Honestly, my wife is a writer and I think she reads at least one book every day. By God, I haven’t read even one book. I have only read faces. I truly believe there is no book better than a human face.) His remark drew laughter from the crowd, especially given Twinkle Khanna’s reputation as a prolific reader and writer.

Contestant’s background sparks the conversation

Before the confession, contestant Yash introduced himself as a Marine Engineer who has also spent years writing cartoon scripts and working as an anchor for the Mumbai Indians. He shared that he contributed to projects linked to Rohit Shetty’s popular franchises such as ‘Golmaal’, ‘Little Singham’ and ‘Simmba’, joking that he now hopes to write for ‘Sooryavanshi’ as well.

Clearly impressed, Akshay responded playfully, “So basically, you are a writer,” which naturally led into his own humorous admission about never reading books.

Twinkle Khanna’s shift from actor to author

Twinkle Khanna, once a familiar face on the big screen with films like ‘Barsaat’, ‘Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai’ and ‘Baadshah’, stepped away from acting after marrying Akshay Kumar. She later carved a new identity as a columnist, interior designer and bestselling author, earning praise for her wit and sharp observations.

A new chapter as talk show host

In recent years, Twinkle also ventured into hosting with the chat show ‘Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle’, co-anchored with Kajol. The show further showcased her candid personality and strong presence beyond films. Akshay Kumar’s light-hearted confession not only entertained audiences but also highlighted the amusing contrast between the action star who “reads faces” and his literary powerhouse spouse who devours books daily.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”