Not competing with the Khans: Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar, despite being constantly pitted against the Khans — Salman, Aamir and Shah Rukh — is on good terms with each of them. 

He says, “I don’t take such stories seriously. And I do not approve of it at all. Others also take everything with a pinch of salt. Whether it’s Aamir, Salman or Shah Rukh, we all maintain cordial relations and there’s no bad blood between us.”

Contrary to reports of regular fallouts and rivalries, he says, “It’s never been about who’s-better-than-whom in the industry. I don’t like comparing anyone to myself and vice versa. I believe we are all together and that this is one industry. We work together and I would love everybody’s films to also work exceptionally well. The industry needs more and more revenue to make bigger films and satisfy the needs of those Indians who keep comparing us to Hollywood.”

Isn’t competition in the industry been reduced to nothing more than a rat race, though? “I don’t believe in competition. We are not some Mahalaxmi ka ghoda that we need to constantly race against each other. I feel all such loose talk is a thing of the past.”

So, a two-hero film, co-starring a Khan, is possible in the future? “Like I said, there is no competition or bad blood between anyone. I am sure, like me, others also wish me well. But the only problem today is, there is a lack of unity among all of us. Maybe, that’s why there are not many multi-starrers and two-hero projects coming up now.”