Amid ‘Sarfira’ Release, A Look At Akshay Kumar’s Movies Based On Real Life Incidents
Amid the release of Akshay Kumar’s new Hindi movie ‘Sarfira’, we decided to take a look at some of his films based on real-life incidents.
Akshay Kumar, born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia on September 9, 1967, in Amritsar, Punjab, India, is one of the most prominent actors in Bollywood. The Bollywood star was born to Hari Om Bhatia, an army officer, and Aruna Bhatia, a homemaker-turned-film producer. Raised in Delhi's Chandni Chowk, he later moved to Mumbai, where he completed his schooling at Don Bosco High School, Matunga. He then attended Guru Nanak Khalsa College in Mumbai, though he dropped out to pursue his passion for martial arts and acting. Before entering Bollywood, Akshay Kumar did various jobs.
Akshay Kumar developed a keen interest in martial arts. To pursue this passion, he moved to Bangkok, Thailand, where he trained in Muay Thai, a form of kickboxing. He earned a black belt in Taekwondo in India and continued to enhance his skills in Thailand. While in Bangkok, Akshay Kumar worked as a chef and waiter to support himself. He honed his culinary skills, which later contributed to his disciplined lifestyle.
Upon returning to India, Akshay Kumar began teaching martial arts. He later transitioned to a career in modeling, which eventually led him to the film industry. However, Akshay Kumar's entry into Bollywood was not without challenges. He faced numerous rejections and setbacks but remained persistent. His modelling assignments opened doors to minor roles in films, but it was his determination and dedication that eventually paid off.
After moving to India, he also changed his name from Rajiv Bhatia to Akshay Kumar. There is an interesting story behind his name change. For the unversed, Akshay Kumar made his Bollywood debut with a 10-second cameo in a Mahesh Bhatt directorial titled ‘Aaj’, wherein he played a Martial Arts instructor by the name Akshay. The actor decided to be known to the world as Akshay Kumar and adapted it as his screen name.
His major break came with the 1992 film ‘Khiladi’, earning him the nickname ‘Khiladi Kumar’. This film set the tone for a series of action-oriented roles.
In the mid 90s, Akshay Kumar solidified his status with successful films like ‘Main Khiladi Tu Anari’ and ‘Mohra’. Movies like ‘Hera Pheri’, ‘Dhadkan’, ‘Namastey London’ and ‘Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’ demonstrated his versatility with roles in comedy, romance, and drama.
He also ventured into socially relevant films such as ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’ and ‘Pad Man’, addressing critical issues. In recent years, Akshay Kumar, often called ‘The Khiladi Kumar’, has delivered hits like ‘Kesari’, ‘Mission Mangal’, and ‘Good Newwz’.
However, the last few years haven’t been particularly great for Akshay Kumar. The Bollywood star’s last few films like 'Ram Setu', 'Samrat Prithviraj', 'Mission Raniganj', and 'Selfiee', have all tanked at the box office. His most recent film ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’, which was released in cinemas in April 2024, was also a critical and commercial dud.
Akshay Kumar has now come out with a new film titled ‘Sarfira’. Released on Friday, July 12, ‘Sarfira’ is a particularly important film for him as his last box office hit was the 2023 movie 'OMG 2', in which he had an extended cameo and served as the producer.
For the unversed, ‘Sarfira’ is a remake of Suriya's smash hit ‘Soorarai Pottru’. Directed by Sudha Kongara, ‘Sarfira’ is said to be the biopic of GR Gopinath, the founder of Indian low-cost airline Simplifly Deccan.
Amid the release of Sudha Kongara’s ‘Sarfira’, we decided to revisit some of Akshay Kumar’s movies based on real life incidents.
Without further ado, check out the list here:
1. Airlift: The 2016 Hindi movie, featuring Akshay Kumar in the lead role, is based on the true events of the largest civilian evacuation in history. The film portrays the evacuation of over 170,000 Indians from Kuwait during the Gulf War in 1990, following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The operation involved a series of Air India flights over 59 days, successfully bringing back Indians from a war zone. The film was directed by Raja Krishna Menon. The movie’s plot followed the central character Ranjit Katyal (Akshay Kumar) and how he carried out the evacuation of Indians based in Kuwait during the Invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein's Iraq, which led to the beginning of the Gulf War. The central plot of the movie was taken from the real-life story of a Kuwait-based Malayali businessman Mathunny Mathews. Akshay Kumar's portrayal of Katyal's transformation from a self-centred man to a hero willing to risk everything is both inspiring and heart-wrenching in the film. Apart from Akshay Kumar, 'Airlift' also starred Nimrit Kaur in the leading role. The movie received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. It grossed over Rs 128 crore in India and made Rs 228 crore worldwide.
2. Rustom: Starring Akshay Kumar in the lead role, ‘Rustom’ was released in cinemas on August 12, 2016. ‘Rustom’ is inspired by the real-life case of K.M. Nanavati vs. the State of Maharashtra. The case involved Naval officer Kawas Manekshaw Nanavati, who was tried for the murder of his wife's lover, Prem Ahuja, in 1959. The case received unprecedented media coverage after which Kawas Manekshaw Nanavati, accused under section 302, was declared not guilty by the Bombay session court. However, the verdict was dismissed by the Bombay High Court and the case was retried as a bench trial. Nanavati was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment under Section 302 of the IPC. Nanavati, however, received huge support from the public, the Indian Navy and the Parsi community. Prem Ahuja’s sister Mamie Ahuja was also persuaded to forgive Nanavati. She gave her agreement in writing and Nanavati was released after spending three years in jail. After his release, Nanavati with his wife Sylvia and three children shifted to Canada. He later died in 2003. Apart from Akshay Kumar, the movie also starred Ileana D'Cruz as Cynthia Pavri, based on Sylvia Nanavati, Rustom's wife. ‘Rustom’ was a commercial success, minting over Rs 127 crore in India and Rs 216 crore globally.
3. Pad Man: Directed by R Balki, ‘Pad Man’ was released in theatres in February 2018. In the movie, starring Akshay Kumar essayed the role of the real-life social entrepreneur Arunachalam Muruganantham, who revolutionised menstrual hygiene in rural India by creating affordable sanitary napkins. The film tried to shed light on the stigma surrounding menstruation and the efforts of one man to make a difference. Akshay Kumar’s performance in the film was hailed as sensitive and impactful, highlighting the importance of breaking taboos. Apart from Akshay Kumar, 'Pad Man' also starred Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor. Not many would know but it was Akshay Kumar's wife Twinkle Khanna who came up with the idea of telling the story of Arunachalam Muruganantham on the silver screen. Twinkle Khanna, who served as a co-producer on 'Pad Man' came across this true story while doing research for her column in the ‘Times Of India'. ‘Pad Man’ performed moderately at the box office, grossing approximately Rs 81.74 crore in India and Rs 207 crore worldwide. While it didn't reach blockbuster status, the film garnered immense praise for its subject matter and Akshay Kumar's performance.
4. Gold: The 2018 Hindi movie starred Akshay Kumar and marked Mouni Roy’s big Bollywood debut. The sports drama film was inspired by India's first Olympic gold medal in hockey as an independent nation in 1948. In the film, Akshay Kumar played the role of Tapan Das, the manager of the Indian hockey team, navigating the challenges of pre-independence India to achieve a dream that unites a nation. Apart from Akshay Kumar and Mouni Roy, the movie also starred Amit Sadh, Kunal Kapoor, Vineet Kumar Singh, Sunny Kaushal, and Nikita Dutta. The film was directed by Reema Kagti, while it was produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. For the unversed, 'Gold' became the first Bollywood film to be released in Saudi Arabia. The movie made Rs 109.58 crore in India and Rs 158 crore globally. The 2018 Hindi movie received positive reviews for its patriotic theme, performances, and portrayal of historic events.
5. Kesari: Akshay Kumar returned with another movie based on a real-life incident in the form of ‘Kesari’, which was released in March 2019. ‘Kesari’ told the story of the Battle of Saragarhi, which is viewed as a remarkable event in Indian military history. In this battle, 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army fought against 10,000 Afghan invaders in 1897. In the film, Akshay Kumar played the role of Havildar Ishar Singh, the valiant leader of the Sikh regiment, displaying extraordinary bravery and resilience. Apart from Akshay Kumar, ‘Kesari’ also starred Parineeti Chopra, Vikram Singh Chauhan, Sarwar, Vansh Bhardwaj, Jaspreet Singh, Vivek Saini, Vikram Kochhar, and Rakesh Sharma. Directed by Anurag Singh, ‘Kesari’ performed well at the box office, grossing over Rs 155 crore in India and Rs 208 crore worldwide. It received positive reviews for its depiction of historical events, battle sequences, and Akshay Kumar's performance, which was hailed as powerful and emotionally charged. One of the film’s tracks titled ‘Teri Mitti’, sung by B Praak, became immensely popular. For the unversed, B Praak won the National Award for Best Male Playback Singer for ‘Teri Mitti’ at the 67th National Film Awards in 2021.
6. Mission Mangal: Starring Akshay Kumar in the lead role, ‘Mission Mangal’ was released in August 2019. ‘Mission Mangal’ is based on the true story of the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan). In the film, Akshay Kumar portrayed the role of Rakesh Dhawan, a scientist leading the mission. The Hindi film celebrated India's scientific achievements and the collaborative efforts of a team that overcame challenges to achieve the impossible. Apart from Akshay Kumar, 'Mission Mangal' also starred Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Taapsee Pannu, Nithya Menen, Kirti Kulhari, Sharman Joshi, HG Dattatreya, Vikram Gokhale, Dalip Tahil, Sanjay Kapoor and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub. ‘Mission Mangal’, directed by Jagan Shakti, made Rs 203 crore in India and Rs 290.30 crore globally. It received positive reviews for its inspirational storyline, performances, and portrayal of India's scientific achievements.
7. Bell Bottom: Akshay Kumar’s 2021 Hindi movie ‘Bell Bottom’ is a fictionalized account of the 1980s hijackings carried out by the Khalistani separatists. Between 1981 to 1984, multiple airlines flying from India were hijacked, mostly by Khalistani separatists and militants. ‘Bell Bottom’ primarily focused on the August 1984 hijacking, though it took inspiration from the other events as well, such as the August 1982 hijacking. The film was directed by Ranjit M Tewari. Apart from Akshay Kumar, the movie also starred Vaani Kapoor, Lara Dutta, Huma Qureshi and Adil Hussain. ‘Bell Bottom’ received a positive response from critics. However, the movie didn’t perform well at the box office, earning Rs 33 crore in India and making Rs 53 crore worldwide.
P.S: Akshay Kumar has also come out with several other movies inspired by real-life incidents, such as ‘Mission Raniganj’, ‘Special 26’ and ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’.
Coming back to Akshay Kumar’s latest release 'Sarfira', it also stars Paresh Rawal, Radhikka Madan, and Seema Biswas in key roles.
After 'Sarfira', Akshay Kumar will be seen in 'Khel Khel Mein', 'Sky Force', 'Welcome to the Jungle', ‘Housefull 5’, 'Jolly LLB 3', 'Shankara', and 'Vedat Marathe Veer Daudle Saat'.
Akshay Kumar will also be having extended cameo appearances in 'Singham Again' and 'Kannappa'.
