Akshay Kumar: I’m not under the same pressures as I was once upon a time

Akshay Kumar who is gearing up for his next ‘PadMan’ expressed his views about the film and being pad man. He is not nervous about the film but is intrigued. He also expressed that R Balki was the right person to take Arunachalam Muruganatham’s journey and make a brilliant film. As Akshay Kumar declared that it takes courage to be pad man. Akshay Kumar believes Balki sir knows how to turn rock into gold. The film is a very sensitive yet brave subject stated the actor. The actor also spoke about his upcoming projects ‘Kesari’, ‘2.0’ and ‘Housefull 4’.


The actor talks about his film ‘PadMan’, “Nervous? No! Intrigued? Yes! There’s nothing to be nervous about. This is a subject that can, and will only help our society. [In the film] there’s no controversial behaviour. In fact, the Censor Board has loved it and hasn’t cut a single thing. What more can anyone want from a film with a message? So I’d say, people, instead of being nervous, be encouraged; use this intrigue to spread the awareness we’re working so hard to create. This is to better the lives of your wives, mothers and daughters. What’s there to be worried about? Come on people, be brave, and be mad.”


Further talking about the film he said, “Even before the moment the film was approved by the real pad man, Mr Arunachalam Muruganantham, himself. When he gave us permission to take his story and make it into a film, my wife and I knew that Balki sir had to be the genius to take this journey and create the cinematic masterpiece that it is today. He was made to make this film. He’s from south India himself, so he has a better understanding of the eccentricities of the real pad man, explained in his native language. And, of course, our Balki sir knows how to turn rock into gold.”



Talking about menstrual hygiene the actor said, “Apart from the complete lack of social awareness about menstruation and the need for hygiene, it was the silent suffering many women endure. Some are locked in what one can only describe as a prison. I mean, you’d think women had committed a crime, yet it was God that made them this way.”


“Menstruation is a gift to women to populate the world. How on earth can a woman be made to feel ashamed and filthy because of it? It pains me that so many young girls can’t even attend school, for the struggle they face at this time of the month, having little or no sanitation, toilets, or pads. One shouldn’t need to be rich to be given a sanitary pad. A woman should not dread her blessing to menstruate just because men don’t know how to deal with it. Don’t worry, Pad Man will show every man, if he cares to listen…”


The advice that Akshay Kumar will give his wife Twinkle Khanna for her debut as a producer, “Follow your heart. You’ll never be able to do enough, but whatever you do, do it from your heart, and you can’t go wrong. Don’t let opinions, money, time, or fear change your path. Let the bad times roll because the sun only shines after a storm.”


When asked if ‘PadMan’ was the toughest role to play the actor said, “Toughest... physically, no, but career-wise, yes. This is a very sensitive yet brave subject, which needed my utmost care and attention. It was tough in the sense I had to become the ‘man’ that women really needed me to be, and I didn’t want to let anyone down.”


He further added, “Being Pad Man takes courage. I not only had to experiment with myself, but also had to learn the ins and outs of sanitation and menstruation. I had to grab hold of this project and give it absolute respect despite any of my own male fears, until I realised there was nothing to fear but my own insecurities.”


When asked about how the actor responds when people say that Akshay Kumar does only social message films, “They clearly aren’t following my career! And even if I am, I’m nothing but proud of that statement. I do what I feel is right, I’m not under the same pressures as I was once upon a time. I’ve reached a phase in my career where I can steer the ship in whatever direction my heart leads me. I haven’t left commercial cinema. I have ‘2.0’ round the corner, followed by ‘Housefull 4’. I’d say, in all honesty, that my films are still pretty diverse. Aren’t they?”


Talking about ‘Kesari’, Akshay Kumar said, “Well, I’ve started shooting for my film ‘Kesari’, where I’m in the heaviest turban and beard I’ve ever had to wear. So I shaved my head to make my life a little easier. I’m known for hating wigs, prosthetics and so on, and ‘Kesari’ is quite demanding. It’s probably my favourite look, though it’s taxing to fight and sweat in this avatar. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.”