You guys don't take any of our heroes and yet want all our girls: Akshay

His father was offered a small role to play Lord Shiva, but that fell through as he couldn't make it to the venue on time. That's as far his family's connection to acting went. So, when actor Akshay Kumar says that 26 years ago he'd never even dreamt that he'd be in this industry one day, you somewhere start believing in destiny. And what is it, if not destiny, that in his first Tamil film, he lands up sharing screen space with the one and only Rajinikanth? That of course is not taking anything away from him this incredibly hard-working and disciplined actor who straddles across cinematic genres with ease and conviction.In this t'te-'-t'te with us, Akshay has a little fun at our expense and keeps us in splits!
Tell us of your experience of working with superstar Rajinikanth for Shankar's 2.0'
Rajinikanth is an unbelievably humble and down-to-earth person. I had first met him many years ago when he had come for a shoot to Bombay. Like everyone else, I, too, am a Rajini fan. When I had just entered the acting profession, I wanted to learn the art of acting. The acting school had asked for `4000, which I couldn't afford, so I did the next best thing and bought this book 'How to be a good actor'. I opened the first page on which was written, to be a good actor, you have to try to be a good human being first. And that is Rajinikanth. He's a very good human being. He has a great aura around him. He remains supremely unaffected by his stardom. He is a loner, likes to travel alone, and likes to have his own space. I see how the people around react to him. They look at him unblinkingly. The other day there was some dust on his pants, and he casually flicked it away, but even in that small gesture of his, people thought there was style. He's a very nice person, too, and I have heard stories about how he helps people. So it's his karma, too, that he's so loved and adored.
What was your first meeting like?
He started by saying how big a fan of mine he was! He rattled off the names of four or five of my films and said he enjoyed watching them. He made me so comfortable.
And what about director Shankar?
I have said this earlier about him, and I will say it again: he's not a director, he's a scientist. The way he's arranged everything is incredible. What you will see on screen in this movie, forget about India, you'd never have seen something like this in Asia. It's so different from anything you've seen before.
And how can we not talk about Amy...
I admire her. She came from a different land to find her place in Tamil movies. She's done that so successfully.
Did you take your time saying yes to Shankar, considering it's a negative role?
I did not even think about it. I said yes in a blink. I wanted to play an out-and-out negative role, which this is. I don't mind doing a full black role, too.
You do a few comedies and then it's some serious stuff. Is this some balance you consciously try to achieve?
It will be so boring to do the same kind of films. When I was doing Housefull 3, I was laughing non-stop for three months. I so enjoyed it. And now I am doing Rustom, which is in a different space. Serious.
Quiet.
It's a thriller?
Rustom is a romantic thriller, and this movie has two firsts. It's the first time that a lead character in a Hindi film is playing a naval officer and the first time a hero is playing a Parsi character. I am excited about this movie because it will be interesting to see how the men react to it. Most films show how a man slips and how the woman forgives and takes him back. In this movie, their roles are reversed. Does a man forgive and is he willing to? Women, too, slip, but our mindset is not tuned to that aspect. I can't wait to see how this film goes down with the men.
Akshay, why is it that we never see you embroiled in any star wars, the war for supremacy in Bollywood, as it were?
I don't understand this at all. Where is the need to have wars? What competition are we talking about? Come on, you do the Math. There are 180 films made in Bollywood every year. There are maximum about 10 top actors. So there's more than enough work for all of us. Most actors like to confine themselves to two films in a year, and some are happy doing just one film. I hear so many scripts, and I love many of them. I wish I could do all of them, but I have my limitations. I can only do three to four films in a year. Are we like horses running a race that we've to worry about who's number 1 and who's number 2?
You are also not seen in the Bollywood party circuit'
I am hardly the partying kinds. I don't say partying is bad, but I find it boring to party. What am I supposed to at such parties? What is it that people do? They get drunk, then someone hits someone, somebody says something. Clearly, not my scene. Besides right from childhood, I am used to having dinner by 7.30pm and hitting the sack by 8.30 or 9pm. You have the night people, and then you have someone like me who's a total morning person.
So, what are you like in the mornings?
I wake up at 4 am. That's the best time of the day for me. This is the time that's all for myself as I am not encumbered by the need to take care of my family and children. I go for a walk on the beach, or in my garden. I swim, I exercise in the world-class gym I have in my house where I do indoor rock climbing and other exercises. These days I am into hydrotherapy, which is a non-impact workout, where you do everything like cycling, jogging, weight-lifting inside the water.
You've been married to Twinkle for 15 years now. Ever experienced the seven-year-itch?
What is that? Never heard about it. Are you supposed to scratch yourself after seven years? Does it happen in Chennai? Wait, I am going to tell everyone that you said that people in Chennai scratch themselves after every seven years! (Much laughter follows)
Please don't. They'll come after me'
Let people say how she can say we scratch after every seven years!
Has cooking, once a passion and profession, taken a backseat for you?
I do cook once in a while, but now it's my son who's turned out to be quite a good cook. He watches MasterChef Junior and other programmes. During our recent holidays to the US, I got him enrolled in a cookery class, which he enjoyed. It's not necessary that an actor's son should become an actor. Anything can happen.
Do you and Twinkle help him with cooking?
Oh no! She's never anywhere near cooking, and knows nothing about cooking! (laughs).
Back to films ' why is it that our films never make the cut at the Oscars?
And how many of their films make the cut at our awards night? Have you heard of any of their movies winning awards here?
One genre you're dying to do...
I'd love to do horror-comedy. I am really keen to do that. I had done a movie many years ago Bhool Bhulaiya that touched upon this genre. I'd be very happy if someone were to offer me a role in a movie of this genre. And, now, can I ask you something?
Shoot...
Why is it that you guys don't take any of our heroes for lead roles in Tamil cinema and yet want all our girls? After all, your heroes, like, say, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan have done lead roles in Hindi movies. All that is offered to our actors is negative roles!
...umm... This is how it is... So, why don't you become the first Bollywood hero in Kollywood?
Well, with Shankar's film, I will!