Hit machine Akshay Kumar has consistently been among the highest tax payers from the film industry. Despite a relatively dull year this time — some of his films did only average business and the rest flopped at the box office (with the exception of the recent Priyadarshan multi-starrer), Akshay has paid Rs 4.5 crore as advance tax against Shah Rukh Khan’s Rs 3.5 crore. Last year, Akshay had paid a total of Rs33 crore as tax, second only to King Khan’s Rs34.45 crore.
Analysts say that in the last five years, Akshay has been instrumental in bringing in approximately Rs800-1,000 crore to the box office, if the overseas market collections are included.
Says Analyst Amod Mehra, “He runs an industry of his own where he has taken on the mighty Khans and is still standing. Interestingly, he made it big after around 80 films. You can see he has a great connect with the masses as even after his films did not do that well since Jumbo (end of 2008), when his latest release opened at the counters, it got a phenomenal opening. People love Akshay for the entertainment he brings them. He has brought crores to the industry and filled his pockets too. Because of his appeal, he can demand astronomical figures and people pay him.”
Akshay, who has never been a critics’ favourite, says: “Everybody is doing their work. They (critics) don’t like my work but people like me. I’m satisfied that I’m entertaining the people — my job only demands me to do that.”
And what is his lucky charm? “I have lived a charmed life. When I look around I can see so many who are much better actors than me, much better lookers and even much better dancers, but Lady Luck has been by my side —maybe because of the hard work I have put in for years. I have four-five movies releasing every year, unlike others who have one or two. I have to put in this much more because I don’t think I’m very talented. But I know that by working harder, I can match them.”
However, the Khiladi says that so much work is making him sense a burn-out. “I’m passionate about what I’m doing and that has kept me going, but I feel that I shouldn’t be doing so much any more. I have promised myself and my family that from 2011, I will only do maximum three films a year. I have reached a level where I can afford to enjoy life,” he says.
Is it because his family is cribbing that he has no time for them? “Not at all. My entire calendar is planned around them. When there are school holidays, I only shoot in Mumbai. I look to take my wife along whenever I’m going outdoors. My family is my first priority,” he ends.
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