Akshaye Khanna reflects on his long-standing desire to act, shaped by his early exposure to his father’s film sets and his natural disinterest in academics. He also opens up about overcoming the emotional impact of premature balding and finding confidence in his craft
Akshaye Khanna
Bollywood actor Akshaye Khanna is all the rage on social media after the release of Dhurandhar. The Aditya Dhar-directorial has been having a dream run at the box office. Clips of Khanna's entry in the film as Rahman Dakhait has gone viral on social media. Not just Dhurandhar, Khanna also had a hit in Chhaava earlier this year where he played Emperor Aurangzeb.
Akshaye Khanna on acting aspirations
Back in 2020, Khanna had spoken to mid-day about harbouring the ambition to become an actor way before his teenage years. "I always knew this is what I wanted to do. But more than that, I never saw myself being able to do anything other than be an actor," he said revealing that he was never good at academics.
"I think it was more from seeing my father (Vinod Khanna). I spent a lot of time going to work with him as a kid, which influenced me a lot. I did amateur theatre in school, but I am not a fan. I have huge stage fright. Still do. The first hurdle to cross was telling parents. Once I did that, then it was, kind of, out of my hands! Because dad said he wanted to make a film for me. I have always been naive in life — unable to plan things. Still am. I just go with the flow," he added.
He also clarified that he did not want to be a star. "I didn't say I wanted to be a movie star. I wanted to be an actor. But if you are a successful actor, then you're a star," he said.
Akshaye on pre-mature balding
During the interview, the actor was also asked if his premature balding took a hit at his confidence levels. "Well, because it started happening to me at such a young age, it was like a pianist losing his fingers. It almost felt like that to me, in those days. Till you really come to terms with it, and then it starts bothering you less."
"It's like, I suppose, waking up one morning and saying, "Oh shit, I can't read!" So it would affect you, right? Or you get up in the morning and your knees are paining, and the pain just won't go away. You take a Combiflam for pain relief, and you might realise you need a knee surgery at a very young age. And you might be a sportsperson, so it is heartbreaking. You might lose a year or two of your career. So, as I said, it is like a pianist losing his fingers. Because the way you look as an actor is very important," he added.
Khanna further said, "And especially this part (pointing to the face upwards). [Balding] at 19 or 20 is devastating. It can mentally like kill you. But, as I said, it is like anything else — someone needs glasses, someone needs something else... It's up to you, and what you are comfortable with doing [about it]."
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