BIRTHDAY SPECIAL: 10 Films Where Akshay Kumar Excelled In His Acting Prowess
On Akshay Kumar's 49th birthday today, we bring you some of his best performances which have not just earned the big bucks but even managed to please the critics.
Born as Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia, he became synonymous among fans as Akshay Kumar. With over 150 films under his belt, Akshay has slowly but steadily grown on to become one of the topmost actors of Bollywood. In an industry which is so heavily ruled by the Khans, he is one of the few actors who have managed to carve a niche for themselves.
With very minimal awards to his credit, Akshay takes pride in the fact that he is among the top 10 highest paid actors in the world consistently for the past few years. Besides the Padma Shri award, he has even been recognized by the government of India for being one of the topmost tax payers in the country consecutively for the last few years - a feat that not many Bollywood actors can boast of.
His acting style and choice of films may have been questioned time and again, but he has managed to shut his detractors and come out victorious with a blockbuster. Today, on his 49th birthday, we bring you some of his best performances which have not just earned the big bucks but even managed to please the critics.
Rustom (2016)
Image Source: twitter/akshaykumar
This Tinu Suresh Desai-directed movie saw Akshay as Indian Naval Officer, Rustom Pavri. The film was loosely based on the 1959 KM Nanavati Case. Though the film received mixed reviews, Akki shone in his role of a spurned husband who murders his wife’s lover.
Airlift (2016)
Image Source: twitter/akshaykumar
Airlift saw Akshay attempting a hard-hitting subject. The Raja Krishna Menon directorial saw the actor playing the role of Ranjit Katiyal, an Indian origin Kuwaiti billionaire, who spearheads the mission of evacuating Indians from Kuwait during the Iraq invasion on the Middle Eastern country in 1990. The film showcased many incidences which were inspired from real-life events.
Baby (2015)
Image Source: twitter/akshaykumar
Akshay and Neeraj Pandey have always worked wonders and Baby was yet another example of that. Akshay played the role of Ajay, a Secret Service Agent for the Indian government, who is on a mission after the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai. The film was one of the most gripping thrillers to have been made in Bollywood and was said to be as good as the Hollywood Oscar winner Argo (2012).
Special 26 (2013)
Image Source: twitter/akshaykumar
Another winner from Akshay and Neeraj Pandey. The crime thriller saw Akshay playing a con artiste, Ajay Singh. The crime drama was inspired by the 1987 Opera House heist where a group of people posed as CBI officers on an income tax raid and looted all the valuables from the jewellery store. One of the best robbery films to have come out in Bollywood.
OMG - Oh My God! (2012)
Image Source: twitter/akshaykumar
Making a film on religious issues is always a tricky ground to navigate. Director Umesh Shukla aced it in the satirical comedy OMG – Oh my God! The film saw Akshay play Krishna Vasudev Yadav, a character which was an amalgamation of all the various godly forms of Lord Krishna. Despite having short screen time, Akshay managed to wow the audience.
Namastey London (2007)
Image Source: twitter/eros
This Vipul Shah directorial saw Akshay play a Punjabi guy, Arjun Singh, who gets married to a London-born desi girl, Jazz. However, Jazz annuls the marriage soon after as she thinks Arjun is beneath her. How he manages to win her heart forms the crux of the plot and it’s one of the cutest love stories of Bollywood. Namastey London is expected to have a sequel pretty soon with Akki reprising his role.
Waqt: The Race Against Time (2005)
Image Source: imdb
This Vipul Shah directorial saw Akshay play the irresponsible son to Amitabh Bachchan. The story deals with how the dying father manages to get his son on to the correct path in life.
Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004)
Image Source: vosub
David Dhawan’s laugh riot saw Akshay at his comic best. Even though Salman Khan was the main lead in the movie, Akki managed to steal the show with his antics and superb comic timing.
Dhadkan (2000)
Image Source: ravepad
The love triangle was a big hit at the box-office and Akki’s presence had a lot to do with it. Akshay played the role of a doting husband who is initially spurned by his wife, but eventually finds a place in her heart thanks to his undying love for her.
Hera Pheri (2000)
Image Source: movieup
We bet you love this comic caper that saw him with Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal. It was one of the first films where the audience got a glimpse of Akshay’s funny streak and the actor nailed it.
SpotboyE.com wishes Akshay a very Happy Birthday!
Thumbnail Image Source: twitter/akshaykumar
With very minimal awards to his credit, Akshay takes pride in the fact that he is among the top 10 highest paid actors in the world consistently for the past few years. Besides the Padma Shri award, he has even been recognized by the government of India for being one of the topmost tax payers in the country consecutively for the last few years - a feat that not many Bollywood actors can boast of.
His acting style and choice of films may have been questioned time and again, but he has managed to shut his detractors and come out victorious with a blockbuster. Today, on his 49th birthday, we bring you some of his best performances which have not just earned the big bucks but even managed to please the critics.
Rustom (2016)
Image Source: twitter/akshaykumar
This Tinu Suresh Desai-directed movie saw Akshay as Indian Naval Officer, Rustom Pavri. The film was loosely based on the 1959 KM Nanavati Case. Though the film received mixed reviews, Akki shone in his role of a spurned husband who murders his wife’s lover.
Airlift (2016)
Image Source: twitter/akshaykumar
Airlift saw Akshay attempting a hard-hitting subject. The Raja Krishna Menon directorial saw the actor playing the role of Ranjit Katiyal, an Indian origin Kuwaiti billionaire, who spearheads the mission of evacuating Indians from Kuwait during the Iraq invasion on the Middle Eastern country in 1990. The film showcased many incidences which were inspired from real-life events.
Baby (2015)
Image Source: twitter/akshaykumar
Akshay and Neeraj Pandey have always worked wonders and Baby was yet another example of that. Akshay played the role of Ajay, a Secret Service Agent for the Indian government, who is on a mission after the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai. The film was one of the most gripping thrillers to have been made in Bollywood and was said to be as good as the Hollywood Oscar winner Argo (2012).
Special 26 (2013)
Image Source: twitter/akshaykumar
Another winner from Akshay and Neeraj Pandey. The crime thriller saw Akshay playing a con artiste, Ajay Singh. The crime drama was inspired by the 1987 Opera House heist where a group of people posed as CBI officers on an income tax raid and looted all the valuables from the jewellery store. One of the best robbery films to have come out in Bollywood.
OMG - Oh My God! (2012)
Image Source: twitter/akshaykumar
Making a film on religious issues is always a tricky ground to navigate. Director Umesh Shukla aced it in the satirical comedy OMG – Oh my God! The film saw Akshay play Krishna Vasudev Yadav, a character which was an amalgamation of all the various godly forms of Lord Krishna. Despite having short screen time, Akshay managed to wow the audience.
Namastey London (2007)
Image Source: twitter/eros
This Vipul Shah directorial saw Akshay play a Punjabi guy, Arjun Singh, who gets married to a London-born desi girl, Jazz. However, Jazz annuls the marriage soon after as she thinks Arjun is beneath her. How he manages to win her heart forms the crux of the plot and it’s one of the cutest love stories of Bollywood. Namastey London is expected to have a sequel pretty soon with Akki reprising his role.
Waqt: The Race Against Time (2005)
Image Source: imdb
This Vipul Shah directorial saw Akshay play the irresponsible son to Amitabh Bachchan. The story deals with how the dying father manages to get his son on to the correct path in life.
Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004)
Image Source: vosub
David Dhawan’s laugh riot saw Akshay at his comic best. Even though Salman Khan was the main lead in the movie, Akki managed to steal the show with his antics and superb comic timing.
Dhadkan (2000)
Image Source: ravepad
The love triangle was a big hit at the box-office and Akki’s presence had a lot to do with it. Akshay played the role of a doting husband who is initially spurned by his wife, but eventually finds a place in her heart thanks to his undying love for her.
Hera Pheri (2000)
Image Source: movieup
We bet you love this comic caper that saw him with Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal. It was one of the first films where the audience got a glimpse of Akshay’s funny streak and the actor nailed it.
SpotboyE.com wishes Akshay a very Happy Birthday!
Thumbnail Image Source: twitter/akshaykumar
- Trending
_2025-3-7-9-0-5_thumbnail_2025-3-24-2-37-57_small.jpg)
