I'm boring, but honest: Akshay Kumar

Gabbar Is Back Your thoughts on playing a character named after the greatest villain of Indian cinema?

I know, tell me about it. (Laughs) I couldn't have just played a simpleton called Gaurav. No!! It had to be Gabbar (laughs). In all honesty, as daunting as it was and still is if I may add, my character had to become like Gabbar.

But why would any hero be called Gabbar?

My name in the movie is Aditya, it's not until I have no other option left, do I become Gabbar, just to put the fear into people and revenge for my losses. I'm not playing or trying to reincarnate Gabbar.

But to call a hero to be called 'Gabbar', it like calling Tom Cruise 'Osama' in his next.

When one has a certain mission to accomplish, it's Gabbar's mentality you need! I think what we've done by making Gabbar a brand, when anything needs to be done slightly out of legal context, when a 'No' just doesn't suffice, become Gabbar and the job will be done.

Your last film Baby also dealt with a very important political issue and your next film Airlift is also from the newspaper headlines. Are you rapidly moving away from escapist comedies to socio-politically relevant cinema?

It's not a deliberate move but I am enjoying my new wave of cinematic experience right now, that's all. I will never leave my comedy antics. In fact, right after all my so-called 'serious cinema', I'm going straight into Housefull 3 and releasing Singh is Bling. So not to fear my friends, my funny bone is still well and truly intact, just loving the reality-based drama of life right now (smiles).

Do you feel the politics of our nation needs an urgent cleansing and reform? Have you ever been tempted to join politics?

I've never been tempted to join, but I do like to support and encourage those politicians that do bring great things to our people. Despite the many that give our nation a bad name, there are also many that stand up for what's right and what's needed. They must not be lost in the corrupted crowd. There is good and bad in us all, it's what we choose to focus on that matters.

As an actor who takes a keen interest in the trade, what is your take on the slump at the box office this year?

As an actor, my view is we need to concentrate on what the audience is looking for, in a film right now. Rather than making what we are obsessed with, we need to ensure we are fulfilling their expectations more than our own. One can make a great film, but released at the wrong time or in the wrong circumstances, it can disappear into oblivion. There is still hope, many eagerly-anticipated films are coming out later this year, so let's wait for them, you'll see the slump vanish just as quick as it came.

On the other hand, Hollywood spectacles like Fast & Furious 7, and Avengers 2 are doing well. As a top action hero of Bollywood, why do you think our action films can't compete with Hollywood?

That's because they spend more money than a Bollywood film could ever dream of spending… Our market can neither afford nor take the chance with such risky figures. Avengers 2 may be terrific, but let Hollywood spend what they want and do what they're good at and let Bollywood spend what we can and make what we're good at. To everyone, the grass is always greener on the other side. You need to know when to stop gazing at what will never be and focus on what can be. Our nation will never be able to afford a cinema ticket like that of what is charged abroad, therefore our revenue will never add up to what it costs to make such grand films.

What is the one thing that you'd like to change about yourself?

I would eradicate the need to want to play on my iPad. As much as it's been a technological breakthrough, it has also stolen many hours of my time that I wish I had never wasted playing on it. I sometimes use it as an excuse for 'me time'. That's pretty much my worst vice in life, other than that, I'm a pretty good boy, to be honest. Boring I know, but honest.