Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar ruled the box office for years with movies that topped the charts one after the other. However, he is going through a difficult time right now, as a number of his most recent movies have not performed well.
The last few years have not been good for him, as he has delivered multiple flops in a row, resulting in a combined loss of around ₹1000 crore.
Following the enormous failure of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan earlier in the year, Akshay's most recent film, Sarfira, has also underperformed. Sarfira is a remake of the Tamil film Soorarai Pottru, for which actor Suriya won the National Film Award for Best Actor.
Despite an estimated budget of ₹100 crore, Sarfira only made ₹21.5 crore in the domestic market, even after being in theaters for 12 days.
Some of his flop films are Bell Bottom, Laxmmi, Cuttputtli, Atrangi Re, Bachchan Paanday, Samrat Prithviraj, Ram Setu, Selfiee, Mission Ranigunj, and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.
While discussing his recent string of flops and the lessons he's learned from failure, the actor remains optimistic.
"Behind every film there is a lot of blood, sweat, and passion that goes in. It is heartbreaking to see any film fail. But you have to learn to see the silver lining. Every failure teaches you the value of success and increases the hunger for it even further,” Akshay said.
“Luckily, I learned to deal with it earlier on in my career. Of course, it hurts and impacts you, but that won’t change the fate of the film. It’s not something that is in your control; what is in your control is to work harder, make amends, and give it your all to your next film. That’s how I channel my energy and try to move on to the next, focusing my energy where it matters the most,” he added.
Akshay credits his accomplishments to his focus and work ethic. He emphasizes the significance of sticking to a schedule and remaining fit both mentally and physically.
Regarding changes in the film industry post the COVID-19 pandemic, the 56-year-old actor said, "The pandemic has undoubtedly changed the dynamics of the film industry. With audiences being more selective about their cinema outings, it has become crucial to choose projects that offer something completely entertaining and unique.”
“I’ve become more mindful of the content, ensuring that it resonates with the current times and provides an experience that justifies a trip to the theater. It’s about finding stories that not only entertain but also connect deeply with the audience,” he said.
“I believe it was the mindset of limitation. Coming from a humble background, the idea of making films in Bollywood seemed like a distant dream to me. The industry is competitive, and breaking into it requires more than just talent — it requires resilience, hard work, and a bit of luck,” Akshay said about the biggest obstacle he had to overcome to become a star.
“But I was stubborn and adamant. So, I took a leap, trusted my instinct, and stayed focused on my goals. That persistence has been crucial in shaping my journey,” he continued.
Despite the recent string of misses, Akshay remains dedicated to his craft, believing that his hard work and perseverance would return him to box office success. He will return soon with a new film, Khel Khel Mein, a Malayalam remake of the Spanish classic 12th Man, starring Mohan Lal. The film is set to release on August 15.
