Akshay Kumar on 'PadMan': We need to change the way we think

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is all set to break stereotypes with his upcoming film 'PadMan'. The actor has proved time and again that the audience does cater to different cinema as well. Talking about making the unconventional the new convention today, the actor said, "The reception has been really good. Whether it’s an 'Airlift', 'Rustom', 'OMG: Oh My God!' or 'Special 26', which I had started off with, it’s been fantastic. Actually, if you see, I started it usse bhi pehle, when I made '8X10 Tasveer' with Nagesh Kukunoor. The film didn’t see much success but I was clear that I wanted to make cinema which was different from what I was doing, because this gives me a chance to do diverse things."

Talking about breaking stereotypes in 'PadMan' the actor said, "When I played a Parsi in 'Rustom', I didn’t talk the way they usually do in films. I know many Parsis who don’t speak like this. Movies make them look caricaturish. At times, kharab hi kar dete hai. When they have a Bengali character, they make them speak differently. It’s not how people talk usually. I have never liked that. So, I don’t feel the need to adhere to stereotypes." He further spoke about wearing a sanitary napkin for his role, "The first 30 seconds into the shot, I was a little nervous. But then, I was totally fine and I had no issues with it at all. It was just like any other scene."

Talking about breaking superstitions, the actor said, "That is the challenge, na! Why is it a taboo or unmanly? Why can’t we just break these glass walls? They need to be broken. It’s as natural as a guy getting cuts and blood oozing out. I don’t take any of it to be unmanly. We need to change the way we think."

When asked if he thinks 'PadMan' will bring about a change, he said, "I want a bigger change. Forget tax free, it should be completely free. Women strong, country strong and to make them strong, you have to make sanitary napkins free and easily available to them. Because of the cost, so many women use bhusa, raakh and dirty clothes to stop bleeding. It’s not hygienic. For all this, there needs to be a budget which can be one or two per cent of the defence budget. If you have that, women are stronger and they give birth to healthier children and eventually, men too become strong. It’s a simple cycle. When there’s a tree, you don’t start cutting the tree’s leaves or branches. You need to nurture the root, which is what we all forget. Physical roop change karke kya hoga?" Stay tuned for more updates.