Distinctive awards.. Akshay Kumar's career and countless successful films

Akshay Kumar is an Indian actor born on 9 September 1967. He has appeared in over 100 Hindi films. During the 1990s, Kumar was primarily described as a Bollywood action hero, starring in successful action films such as Khiladi (1992), Mohra (1994), and Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995), and is particularly known for the "Khiladi series". He was also known for his performances in romantic films such as Yeh Dillagi (1994) and Heartbeat (2000) as well as thrillers such as Ek Rishta (2001).

Akshay Kumar won his first Filmfare Award in the Best Villain category in 2002, for his performance in Foreigner (2001). Willing to change his stiff image, Kumar later ventured more into comedy films. His performances in comedy films like Hera Pheri (2000), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Garam Masala (2005), and Jaan-e-Mann (2006) met with critical acclaim.

On the other hand, Akshay Kumar's success rose further in 2007, when he starred in four consecutive commercial shows. Having done so, he established himself as one of the leading actors in the Indian film industry after his breakthrough in the Khiladi series, which paved the way for his fame from the 1990s to its latest installment in 2012.

In 2008, the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Kumar in recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009 by the Government of India.

Akshay Kumar's beginning

Akshay Kumar was born in Amritsar, Punjab to a Punjabi family. His father worked in the government. He was noticed as a performer from a very young age, especially as a dancer. Kumar grew up in Delhi's Chandni Chowk neighbourhood before moving to Mumbai. In Mumbai, he lived in Koliwada, which was another Punjabi-dominated area. He studied at Don Bosco School and then Khalsa College, where he developed an interest in sports.

But after getting his black belt in Taekwondo in India, he went to study martial arts in Bangkok, learning Muay Thai and working as a chef. He then returned to Mumbai, where he started teaching martial arts. One of his students happened to be a photographer and recommended him as a model. The student gave him a modeling gig for a small company. He was paid Rs 5,000 for two hours in front of the camera as compared to his previous salary of Rs 4,000 for a month. This was one of the main reasons why he chose to become a model but after a few months of modeling, Kumar was finally offered a lead role by producer Pramod Chakravarthy for the film Deedar.

Akshay Kumar's Career His films like Sohag and the low-budget action film Elan helped cement Kumar as one of the most successful actors of the year.

Apart from his share of unsuccessful films in 1995, he starred in his third film in the Khiladi series, Sabse Bada Khiladi, which was a huge success. He proved his mettle with the Khiladi series, and the following year he starred in his fourth successful film, titled Khiladi, Khiladiyan Ka Khiladi opposite Rekha and Raveena Tandon. The film became one of the highest grossing films of the year.

Akshay Kumar, on the other hand, starred in the comedy Hera Pheri (2000), which was both a critical and commercial success, and showed his ability to do comedy roles as well as action and romantic roles. He also starred in the romantic film Heartbeat later that year, which also did moderate business at the box office. In 2001, Kumar played a negative role in a foreign film. The film won much acclaim and also earned him his first Filmfare Award for Best Villain. Kumar received critical acclaim for his role as a blind man in Aankhen, which was a box office success that year.

Separately, after the success of Hera Pheri, Kumar starred in several comedy films, including Awara Pagal Deewana (2002), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004) and Garam Masala (2005). The films were successful at the box office, and his performance in the latter earned him his second Filmfare Award for Best Comedian.

Besides his work in action, comedy and romance roles, Kumar has displayed his flair for dramatic roles in films such as Ek Rishta (2001), Aankhen (2002), Bewafaa (2005), and Waqt: The Race Against the Clock (2005).

Akshay Kumar's debut film Tashan (2008) marked his return to Yash Raj Films after 11 years. Although highly anticipated by the audience, the film was a critical and commercial failure. His second film Singh Is Kinng was a huge box office success, breaking the worldwide opening week record and surpassing the previous record of Om Shanti Om. His next film was the animated film Jumbo.

While in 2009, Kumar appeared opposite Deepika Padukone in the Warner Bros.-Rohan Sippy-produced Chandni Chowk to China. Directed by Nikhil Advani, the film was a critical and commercial failure at the box office.

During his years in Bollywood, Kumar was romantically linked with a number of his fellow actresses including Ayesha Jholka, Pooja Batra, Raveena Tandon, and Shilpa Shetty. After being engaged twice to actress Twinkle Khanna, daughter of veteran actors Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia, he finally married her on January 14, 2001. Their son, Aarav, was born on September 15, 2002.

A leading Mumbai tabloid newspaper in 2007 ran a story that Kumar and his wife had fallen out and that Kumar had moved out of his home and was staying in a hotel. On 26 July 2007, the couple sent a legal notice to the tabloid declaring the rumours false.

Awards and Nominations

In 2009 he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award by the Government of India. Honorary Doctorate

2008 – Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada for his distinguished work in the film industry and contribution to social work. National Honor

2004 – Rajiv Gandhi Award for Outstanding Achievement in Bollywood. In 2009 – IIFA-FICCI Frames, 'Most Powerful Entertainer of the Decade' for his contribution to Indian Cinema.