Akshay Kumar

Born: 9 September, 1967 in Amritsar, Punjab

Biography: Akshay Kumar (born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia) is a current Bollywood superstar, esp. popular for his comic and action roles. He came a long way from being a waiter in Bangkok, later martial arts instructor to one of the most successful actors in Bollywood.

During the 90s, Akshay got success as the action hero of Bollywood, starring in hit action films such as Khiladi (1992), Mohra (1994) and Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995), and being particularly known for his "Khiladi Series". However, he was simultaneously recognised for his performances in romantic films like Yeh Dillagi (1994) and Dhadkan (2000) as well as dramatic films such as Ek Rishtaa (2001), showing his versatility to perform a range of roles.

In 2002, he won his first Filmfare Award under the Best Villain category, for his performance in Ajnabee (2001). Willing to change his intransigent image, Kumar later ventured mostly into comedy films. His comic performances in films such as Hera Pheri (2000), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Garam Masala (2005) and Jaan-E-Mann (2006) met with critical acclaim. His success came to its peak in 2007, when he starred in four consecutive commercial hits. He has established himself as one of the most successful and bankable actors of Bollywood.