’I have my ups and downs’

Akshay Kumar says hits and misses are part of the game. the superstar tackles questions on over-charging, his shark-fest Blue and a regret called Kambakkht Ishq

Akshay Kumar says hits and misses are part of the game. the superstar tackles questions on over-charging, his shark-fest Blue and a regret called Kambakkht Ishq

Hand-painted doors, gorgeous art, carved ceilings, lotus pools and a pretty garden. Akshay Kumar's house is among Bollywood's most beautiful homes, a little oasis set by the Juhu seaside. "You don't feel as if you're in Mumbai," he says, beaming with pride, "Tina picks up these pieces whenever we travel. I'm lucky to have an interior designer as a wife." So sprawled in his serene office and relaxed, Akshay Kumar takes on a volley of questions.u00a0

You're back in Mumbai for Blue.

Yes, I've been travelling a lot I was in London, Hong Kong and Macau. I finished the movie Houseful in Italy. I like shooting like thatu00a0 45 days and the movie is out. You're in character and your face looks the same. Once I was watching one of my old films. In it, I was saying, "Maa, mujhe aashirwad do, mein sheher ja rahan hoon." I go touch her feet and by the time I stand up, my hair is so long (laughs, pointing at his shoulder). Now luckily, we shoot one movie at a stretch.

Everyone's asking, "What is Akshay Kumar doing without a heroine in Blue?"

I play a negative character. There's no Mona Darling in this film, like other villains usually have. But I do have 40 sharks with me.

Did they get romantic?

Yes, they didu00a0 they were circling around me. To call these darlings towards me, I had to bait them just so they could be in the same frame as me. I'm not there for the heroine, I'm there for the treasure hidden in the sea.

Apparently, the director Anthony D'Souza had also worked with your father.

Yes, years ago, they worked together for UNICEF, but that wasn't the reason why I agreed to do his film. I liked the idea of an underwater action film. Blue is unique, a first for Indian screens. That's why I feel everyone should see Blue in the theatre. The effect of that water, the scale of action, (A R) Rahmansaab's musicu00a0 it will all be lost on DVD.

Anthony is one of the few directors who has bled for his film. Rahmansaab only does background score recording in the night at his studio in Chennai.

This man used to catch a flight every evening, sleep on the flight, sit there with Rahmansaab. He used to be back in the morning in Mumbai, at Film City shooting with me, pack up and go back to Chennai. He did this for 32 days. Slept only the plane. Now that's the greed of a newcomer. I only hope this movie works for this man.

He's taken action to a different level. See, the storylines of these kind of films are very thin. I want the treasure, and the hero of the film, Mr Sanjay Dutt is the man who is going to help me get it. This doesn't have any maang mein sindoor or bhai behen ka pyaar.

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Did you know scuba-diving?

No, I had a teacher, I went to Koh Samui in Thailand to learn. Then the cinematographer Pete Zuccarini, who shot The Pirates of the Caribbean, helped me. The man literally made me swim like a dolphin, push my lungs to extremes and look like I was born in the water.

Have you ever swum with sharks, like on an adventure holiday?

No, no, no, this is my first time. Sharks are beautiful. Funny thing is, I was on a special fish diet because I had to look lean in Blue and I used to have shark fin soup. On my first day, I looked into one of their eyes and thought, 'If he knows I've had shark fin soup, this gentleman isn't going to leave me alone.' I prayed that if they would let me shoot this movie, I'd give up eating shark fin soup and I did.

We went down deep into the ocean and shot like this for 45 days. The best part was that in the Bahamas, the water was warm, perfect. There's this machine we rode called the sea bob, this underwater scooter that goes at 40 kms per hour. It's fun and scary because you never know when you've gone too deep.u00a0

Did your son Aarav know you were swimming with sharks?

He did, but he didn't feel any fear he's too small.

Is he also into martial arts?

Aarav does parkour, a kind of jumping around. Any child would enjoy thatu00a0 you're expressing your freedom. He's too young to go diving, but I have taken him snorkelling.u00a0

You must have heard of Percept head Shailendra Singh's recent comments. He said you're all hot air, you charge too much and can't deliver. What's your reaction?

There's no reaction. (Smiles) I just laughed about it. It's okay. Doesn't matter. When you refuse to do somebody's film, they react this way. It happens. I understand where he comes from.

You've had a difficult year with Chandni Chowk To China, Tasveer. Even Kambakkht Ishq didn't rock the box office.

It happens to everybody. You can't have a graph straight up.

Last year, everyone said Akshay is the Hit Maker, the Box Office King. How does it feel when you have a tag and that changes?

I don't get into what my tag is. I'm not a product on which you can put a tag. I'm an actor who has his ups and downs. I've done 120 films. In 20 years, I've seen slumps about four to five times. It's nothing new. Some movies work, some don't.

People say your films aren't working because you charge too much and over-inflate the budget.

So then, don't take me. There are so many TVs in the market. Why do you want to pick the expensive one?

I know the reasons (why the films have flopped), but I don't want to get into it. I've never put a gun on anyone's head and said, 'You have to take me in your film.' It's your decision. I have my three-four films a year and I'm doing them. I understand the financial aspects of those. It's fine.

How do you view Kambakkht Ishq today?

After talking to a lot of people, I found out that they were offended by the language. We didn't realise that when we were doing it and were casual about the whole thing. That was wrong. It stays in my head now and I'm going to be sure not to 'chiggy-wiggy' with that again.

Was it because audiences see Akshay Kumar as a loving husband and father?

But I was playing a character. He thinks nothing of women. He's a male chauvinist. Just because I play a terrorist, doesn't mean I'm going to blow people up. I live with four women my mother, wife, sister and niece and have always said women are stronger than men.u00a0u00a0

Tell us about your song Chiggy Wiggy with Kylie Minogue.

(Laughs) Do you know that chiggy wiggy is British slang for 'mingling'? I thoroughly enjoyed dancing with Kylie. I was impressed by the way she picked up those Bollywood steps.

Do you know that she's planning a wedding?

No, I haven't stayed in touch, but I just hope she has a big Bollywood show at her wedding.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0