Akshay Kumar turns 58: A look at his inspiring journey from Rs 5,000 pay cheque to Rs 2,500 cr empire

Akshay Kumar is celebrating his 58th birthday today,

Bollywood's Khiladi, Akshay Kumar, celebrates his 58th birthday on September 9, and every year fans celebrate the birthday of one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars.

Born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia in 1967, Akshay's journey from a waiter in Bangkok to becoming one of India’s highest-paid and most respected actors is nothing short of remarkable. He is known as 'Khiladi Kumar' after the success of his action thrillers - the Khiladi series.

Akshay built a career spanning over 150 films and has worked in almost every genre, from action and comedy to socially relevant dramas.

His life story is as much about hard work and discipline as it is about success and stardom.

Early life

Akshay was born in old Delhi and later moved out of his hometown in search of work. He moved to Bangkok and in order to survive, he worked as a waiter and chef in Bangkok before returning to Mumbai, where he taught martial arts to make a living.

According to earlier reports, his first acting assignment paid him just Rs 5,000; it was for a movie titled Deedar. This figure feels almost unreal when compared to the kind of amount he gets paid for his work.

From that small check, he now commands over Rs 90 crore per film reportedly and has amassed a net worth of more than Rs 2,500 crore.

His wealth is spread across multiple avenues like film production, endorsements, start-up investments, luxury real estate including sea-facing duplexes in Mumbai and villas abroad, a fleet of high-end cars, and even a private jet.

Despite his super success and delivering superhit films, it is Akshay Kumar's discipline that sets him apart.

He has spoken about being an early riser, and he wakes up as early as 4 am. In one of his previous interviews, he once said, "I have never missed a sunrise in my life."

He also revealed that he doesn't attend late-night parties and follows a very strict daily routine.

He starts his day with martial arts training, yoga, and meditation. He also has a carefully planned diet, which is rich in protein and balanced nutrition. He follows a vegan diet and recently he also spoke about keeping Monday fasts.

"Somwaar ko main poora fasting krta hu, full day fast, like Sunday is the last meal and after that, Monday is a full day fast till Tuesday morning (On Mondays, I fast the entire day. Sunday’s meal is the last one, and then I do a full-day fast on Monday until Tuesday morning," he recently told a gathering.

Akshay has been very vocal about how health is his greatest wealth.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Akshay prefers to do his own stunts, earning him the tag of the 'Indian Jackie Chan.'

Akshay’s fitness philosophy is also tied to his belief in giving back.

He has supported numerous martial arts training programs, particularly those focused on women’s self-defense.

His philanthropic work, however, goes far beyond fitness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he donated Rs 25 crore to the PM CARES Fund, and over the years, he has quietly contributed to the welfare of soldiers’ families, drought-affected farmers, and acid-attack survivors.

Recently he also pledged Rs 5 crore for the Punjab flood relief, describing it as 'sewa, not donation.'

He was also one of the key backers of the Bharat Ke Veer initiative, which supports families of martyred jawans, and has funded insurance schemes for stunt artists who often risk their lives for cinema.

He has joined hands with local citizens to clean up Mumbai’s Juhu Beach after Ganpati immersions.

Personal life 

Akshay Kumar married Twinkle Khanna, daughter of legendary actors Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia, in 2001. Twinkle is a former actress and is now a noted author, columnist, and interior designer. The couple has two children, son Aarav and daughter Nitara.

Akshay turns 58 and shows no signs of slowing down. According to sources, he will celebrate his birthday by announcing his 200th film, a feat that only a few performers in Indian cinema have accomplished.

Akshay continues to be a role model for millions of people thanks to his disciplined lifestyle, successful career, and generous heart.