Akshay Kumar reveals his biggest career regret, says he wanted to slap himself

Actor Akshay Kumar said he felt like slapping himself after spending a decade doing only action roles. The reflection framed his 35-year career as one of constant reinvention as Welcome to the Jungle nears release.

In Short

• Akshay Kumar regrets limiting himself to action roles in his first decade
• He said he reinvented himself across comedy, drama, romance and horror-comedy
• His upcoming film Welcome to the Jungle releases on June 26

Actor Akshay Kumar said he felt like "slapping himself" after spending his first decade in Hindi cinema doing only action roles. He realised he had got stuck in that image and needed to break out of it. The 58-year-old actor said that over a 35-year career, he has been able to explore, reinvent and transform himself by moving into comedy, drama, romance and horror-comedy genres.

Speaking to PTI, Akshay said he entered the film industry only to earn money, but now feels lucky to have had a career that has lasted so many years. The Welcome To The Jungle actor also revealed that he does multiple films each year because he sees it as his duty to contribute to the industry.

"Thirty-five years are a long time.... It is a one in a billion or million chance to have 35 years of career. I hope I go further and cross 40. The prayer is that I keep shooting just five minutes before my death. Initially, when I came to the industry, I only wanted to make money."

"But after that decade, when I saw my films, I felt like slapping myself. I had only done action roles, and nobody thought I was capable of anything else. I realised that I needed to transform myself, and I wanted to do different characters. I then did Hera Pheri (2000), Dhadkan (2000), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Toilet...Ek Prem Katha (2017) and Padman (2018). I have kept transforming myself," the actor said in the interview.

Akshay said he sees himself like a building that must keep being "dismantled" and rebuilt. The actor added that the industry has given him more than he had ever dreamed or hoped for, and that he wants to return the favour by doing as many films as possible.

"I know there are people who say, 'What's the need to do four films in a year, why not one movie?' But I say I want to work every day... It is my duty to do at least four films so that there is more work and business in the industry.

"Hits and flops are part of the business, but I have to deliver, I have to go to work, and that's what I have been doing," he said.

More about Akshay's upcoming film

The actor is now set to release his second film of the year, Welcome to the Jungle, after Bhoot Bangla. A part of the Welcome franchise, the film also stars Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Suneil Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Arshad Warsi, Jackie Shroff and Rajpal Yadav, among others.

Directed by Ahmed Khan, the comedy entertainer has been granted a UA 16+ certificate after 18 cuts and modifications, including the removal of references to Kashmir, changes to some dialogues and edits to scenes featuring Disha Patani and Jacqueline Fernandez. The film has a runtime of 164.50 minutes, or 2 hours, 44 minutes and 50 seconds.

Produced by Firoz A Nadiadwallah, Rakesh Dang and Vedant Vikaas Baali, Welcome to the Jungle is slated to release in theatres on June 26.

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