Akshay Kumar reveals his father was fighting cancer during Waqt, says ‘it was very hard for me emotionally’

Akshay Kumar opened up how shooting for Waqt was an emotional experience for him as his father was battling cancer at that time.

Actor Akshay Kumar is many things to many people - an action hero, comic star, romantic lead and a social crusader. Constantly challenging himself and reinventing his work has made him a fan favourite over the years.

On being questioned about how the film was rather high on emotional quotient, Akshay revealed that the film will always remain special for him. Waqt, which is essentially a film on the bond between a father and a son, as it played out onscreen was what was happening in his life, at that time, as well. In the film, Amitabh, who played Akshay’s father, was shown suffering from cancer. During the shoot of the film, Akshay’s dad too was struggling against cancer.

Speaking about it, Akshay said: I have very clear memories of the film. That was the time when my father was fighting cancer. And this film also had Mr Bachchan having cancer. If you see those scenes, they are real scenes. It was a very hard film for me emotionally. There were so many times when the camera had stopped but I couldn’t stop.”

Akshay fielded a whole host of questions; about how Hera Pheri was one film that altered his image from an action star to a comic actor. He revealed how after that film he vowed to himself that come what may, he would never let get caught in an image and how taking risks has been a part of his scheme of things for a long time. In Ajnabee, he played a negative role (of a man who suggests that they out to swap wives) and had no qualms doing so.

He also spoke about how playing a Sikh character does something to him. Speaking in the context of Singh Is Kingg and now Kesari, he revealed how when he wears a pagdi (a headgear) he feels more powerful and responsible.

“I feel very powerful when I make a film with a turban on my head. When I did Kesari, when I used to wear the pagdi, I use to feel so powerful, so responsible; my back used to become straight. There is also a scientific reason - when you tie a pagdi, it presses your head so much that actually you realise that you have to keep your body straight. There is something about it which gives you that power.”

Akshay also spoke about how Toilet: Ek Prem Katha came about. He mentioned how the script had been doing the rounds in industry circles for four years and how it was called Sandaas: Ek Prem Katha. He revealed Neeraj Pandey, who co-produced it with Akshay, was keen on another actor and how he had to coerce the director to change the name of the film.

Meanwhile, on his work front, Kesari will release on the occasion of Holi (March 21).