Akshay Kumar clears 20 years in bollywood !

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar marks the double decade in the film industry. It was way back in 1991 that Akshay had gate crashed into films as a solo hero with his ‘Dancer’. Though the actor won’t be quite celebrating the anniversary with another August release, he plans to wrap up the significant 20 years with a bang after a couple of months in November 2011, with the release of his forthcoming ‘Desi Boyz’.

As Akshay Kumar celebrates 20 years in Bollywood, here is presenting some interesting factoids around the superstar who was once just any other young man with a good looking face and physique trying with dreams in his eyes to make it big in Bollywood on his own.

When Akshay started off 20 years back, he also faced competition from the likes of Awinash Wadhavan, Ronit Roy, Kamal Sadanah, Prithvi and Ravi Behl (apart from the Khans). Except for Ronit Roy, no one else is active on the filmmaking circuit today.

Akshay Kumar has pretty much patented the title 'Khiladi'. He has worked in 7 Khiladi outings - 'Khiladi', 'Main Khiladi Tu Anari', 'Sabse Bada Khiladi', 'Mr. and Mrs. Khiladi', 'Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi', 'International Khiladi' and 'Khiladi 420'.

Though Akshay is often accused of working in too many comedies, the fact is that he has made maximum films with Late Keshu Ramsay, the man who started it all for Akshay with a lesser known film - 'Mr Bond'. Ever since then, he has worked him in 10 more films - 'Ashant', 'Paandav', 'Sabse Bada Khiladi', 'Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi', 'Mr And Mrs Khiladi', 'International Khiladi', 'Khiladi 420', 'Khakee', 'Insan' and 'Family - Ties Of Blood'.

Akshay hasn't done too many special appearances in his career. While 'Dil Toh Paagal Hai' was an exception that he made for Yash Chopra, it was only recently that he was seen in 'Om Shanti Om', 'Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai' and 'Chalo Dilli'.

At the beginning of his career, Akshay's dream of starring opposite Sri Devi had come true with 'Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahi'. However, the film was delayed by number of years and went totally unnoticed on its release.

Akshay worked with many small time/debutant actresses in the early part of his career - Mohini (Dancer), Farheen (Nazar Ke Saamne), Kanchan (Paandav, Amaanat) and Sheeba (Mr Bond). In fact during this phase, he had also worked with Ashwini Bhave in as many as four films - 'Ashant', 'Kayda Kanoon', 'Sainik', 'Zakhmi Dil' while Shanti Priya was his leading lady for 'Saugandh' and 'Ikke Pe Ikka'.

"First film which Akshay had signed was 'Deedar' opposite Karisma Kapoor. However the one which got released first was 'Dancer'. In the film he had a newbie named Mohini opposite him and though the film didn't make much waves, Akshay was noticed," says a film historian who also reveals that before 'Dancer', Akshay also had a part to play in the multistarrer 'Saugandh' which had released in the same year.

It is a different matter though that the real recognition came his way only a year later once 'Khiladi' (1992) turned into a huge success. Nevertheless, it has indeed turned out to be a long journey for Akshay from 'Deedar' to now 'Desi Boyz', what with 100 odd movies done by the actor in the interim.

On contacted, Akshay said, "I have made sure that I have loved every moment in every film, through all its humble highs and lousy lows. Of course it has been a career to die for."

Cheers to that!

Courtesy: Indiaglitz