Kat is the best: Akshay

Akshay Kumar, who celebrated his birthday yesterday, in a candid chat with Omar Qureshi
He’s just turned 43, but age is just a number for this hunk. In his best phase, looking fit, hot and basking in the joys of fatherhood — Akshay Kumar is the man of the moment. He celebrated his
special day exclusively with zoOm, with a cake, birthday song and some thoughts...
Looking back, anything you’d have done differently?
I’ve only one regret in life — when my son turns 15, I’ll be 50. Looking back, I wish I’d married earlier, and had my son earlier. But nevertheless, it’s a joy to see him grow up. I’ve enjoyed my journey, and I still get excited and enthusiastic about sitting in first class in an aircraft. It still gives me a high. Even now I get excited about raat ko flight pakadni hai, to Toronto or America. I still have that fire in me.
At a time where there were only Khans, you stood tall and formed your own power-camp...
Everyone makes it sound like a war or something that I had to stand up against them. It’s not like that. There’s so much work and there are hardly six or seven stars in the industry at the top. So there’s nothing to respond when people say that I stood my own, or had my own place. Everybody has their own place here.
You’ve worked with some of the hottest new girls like Deepika, Katrina, etc. Do you see a spark in any of them that could make them a diva — like the Madhuris and Sridevis of the 90s?
Yes, I see a lot of spark in these girls. See Katrina, when she started her career, to being one of the top leading actresses today, I can see the way she’s moving ahead. She’s going to be one of the best ones. Then there’s Priyanka, Deepika and Lara — they all have their own pluses, and I’ve known them for long. I think most started their first movies with me. They’ve proved themselves and they’re still going very strong.
Any birthday resolutions for the coming year?
No regrets, so there’re no resolutions either. But yes, I keep on telling myself that I have to be in good shape, take care of my health and keep working hard. Another thing is that I want to work a little less than what I’m doing now. I want to spend lots of time with my family and my son. This will be one big change this year.
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