Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar (aka Mr Khiladi) is an Indian film actor. He has appeared in over 120 Hindi films. As of 2017, he is the tenth highest paid actor in the world.
During the 90s, Kumar was primarily described 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 also recognized for his performances in romantic films like Yeh Dillagi (1994) and Dhadkan (2000) as well as dramatic films such as Ek Rishtaa (2001).
In 2002, he won his first Filmfare Award in 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 further rose in 2007, when he starred in four consecutive commercial hits (Namastey London, Welcome, Heyy Babyy and Bhool Bhulaiyaa). Having done so, he has established himself as one of the prominent actors of the Hindi film industry. In 2008, the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Law on Kumar in recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema. That same year, he starred in the box-office smash Singh Is Kinng. In 2009, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India. that year, he appeared in the So Bad It's Good kung-fu flick Chandni Chowk To China and the box-office hit Kambakkht Ishq (which has cameos from Sylvester Stallone, Denise Richards and Brandon Routh). After a low slum in the early 2010's, he has come back strong with films like Baby, Gabbar is Back and Singh is Bling. From January 2016 to February 2018, he starred in six domestic success a row with films Airlift (2016), Housefull 3 (2016), Rustom (2016, for which he earn a National Film Award), Jolly LLB 2 (2017), Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017) and Padman (2018). He also was the main host of the Indian version of Fear Factor, named (naturally) 'Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi.
Kumnar has nicknamed "India's Jackie Chan" for both his proficiency in martial arts and his penchant for doing his own stunt work. As of the late 2010s, he has taken to producing and starring in films with social themes, notably Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (tackling the sanitary issues of the country), and Padman (based in the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham, the man who invented low-cost sanitary pads and then went to break the menstruation taboos in India).
- The Khiladi series:
- Khiladi (1992)
- Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994)
- Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995)
- Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996)
- Mr. and Mrs. Khiladi (1997), the only one in the series that isn't an action film, instead being a romantic comedy.
- International Khiladi (1999)
- Khiladi 420 (2000)
- Khiladi 786 (2012), the latest film in the series, another departure on the franchise by being an action comedy heavier in the comedy side.
- Dil to Pagal Hai (1997)
- Hera Pheri (2000)
- Ajnabee (2001)
- Andaaz (2003)
- Khakee (2004)
- Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004)
- Garam Masala (2005)
- Phir Hera Pheri (2006)
- Namastey London (2007)
- Heyy Babyy (2007), the Indian Three Men and a Baby
- Bhool Bhulaiya (2007)
- Singh Is Kinng (2008)
- Chandni Chowk To China (2008)
- Kambakkht Ishq (2009)
- The Housefull series, notoriously Housefull 2 (2012), Housefull 3 (2016) and Housefull 4 (2019)
- OMG – Oh My God! (2012)
- Gabbar is Back (2015)
- Airlift (2016)
- Rustom (2016)
- Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017)
- Padman (2018)
- 2.0 (2018), the sequel to Robot
- Kesari (2019)
- Mission Mangal (2019)