Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar claims that he can make people cry, but making them smile isn’t so easy.
“You need guts to do comedy. You are putting yourself out there, hoping that what antic you do will stick with the viewers,” said Kumar in an interview with tabloid!. The 46-year-old star will soon find out. His comic caper Entertainment is out in the cinemas this weekend.
Directed by the duo Sajid-Farhad, the film is about a Golden Retriever called Entertainment who becomes an unlikely heir to a sizeable fortune left by his owner. The move doesn’t sit well with the relatives of the deceased and they plot to get rid of the dog.
“You have plenty to laugh about in Entertainment… I learnt what comedy is about very early in my life,” said Kumar. “When I was young, I was on my way to school and I slipped. Nobody came to help because everybody was busy laughing. My back was hurting badly and I couldn’t even get up. But that was the moment when I realised what comic situations are all about. Sometimes you derive humour from somebody else’s pain.”
The self-made billionaire, who began his Bollywood career in the ‘90s with a slew of action and romantic films, says re-invention is the name of the game.
“I want to do every kind of role and tap into every genre that’s being made.” said Kumar.
tabloid! caught up with the actor-producer to speak about Entertainment, his love for dogs and whether or not he is concerned about the whopping success of Salman Khan’s Kick.
Q: What attracted you to Entertainment?
A: I have done many comedy films such as Hera Pheri, Welcome and Garam Masala in the past. In fact, I have done so many of them that I have lost count. But I can confidently tell you that Entertainment is by far the funniest film I have ever done. I have never laughed so much during a dubbing, so that should tell you about how funny the film is.
Q: The recent Bollywood comedy Humshakals has scarred us with its low-brow content and has made us wary of watching comic films. Will Entertainment restore our faith in Bollywood comedies?
A: I cannot comment on that film. But Entertainment has its own merit. It belongs to a genre that explores the relationship between a human being and a dog. It’s the kind of film that nobody touches in India. Look at Hollywood, at least four such animal-human bonding films are released every year. In 2014 alone, we saw and enjoyed Planet Of The Apes installment and Godzilla. The West loves this genre, but I am surprised that not many people try the same in Bollywood. Eighteen years ago, Govinda attempted to tap into this genre with a monkey in Aankhen and my father-in-law [the late actor Rajesh Khanna] in Haathi Meri Saathi. Those films were successful but somehow we have forgotten its charm. I saw that space empty and jumped at the chance of being part of a film that explores the bond that can form between a human and a canine. It’s got two hours of humour and entertainment. It shows you that your home needs some “puppy love”.
Q: What’s the story of Entertainment?
A: It’s based on a true story about a Parsi family in Mumbai and their family head. Upon his death, he leaves all his money to his pet dog, instead of his son. If you look at it, it’s a sad story but it’s also terribly funny. It’s like when you watch a guy slip on a banana peal in front of a bus stop. You can’t help yourself, but you just laugh at that poor guy before rushing to help him. In this film, I also teach why it’s essential for youngsters and kids to have a pet in the house. After watching Entertainment, I am certain that you will want to own a pet or adopt one.
Q: Do you like dogs?
A: I have three dogs and we have always loved having them around. I have two German Shepherds — Oaky and Clio — in Mumbai and a Golden Labrador in Goa. It’s a slow process to understand a dog. But once you get them, it’s amazing to see their willingness to protect and love you. It’s a bond that can never be broken.
Q: Dogs can instantly win you over with their large eyes. At any point, did you feel insecure about sharing your screen space with the Golden Retriever?
A: Oh come on. Why would I feel insecure? The dog’s name flashes before mine in the rolling credits. He deserves it. I believe every child should have a dog while growing up. Even studies have shown that a child who owns a pet is four times greater than somebody who didn’t have a pet around.
Q: Entertainment was shot extensively in Thailand. Did you feel a sense of deja vu since you worked as a chef in a restaurant in Bangkok in your 20s?
A: Thailand is like home to me since I visit that country every three or four months. That country is a part of my life because I have so many memories and friends there. In fact, this time around, I took my son to the kitchen that I worked in. He was intrigued and his first reaction was: ‘That’s a really small kitchen’. My response: ‘Honey, money was so short back then that if they had asked me to make food in the bathroom, I would have done it.’
Q: Salman Khan’s Eid release Kick continues to do brisk business in the cinemas. Do you fear that your film will be overshadowed?
A: I hate such petty competition and I don’t like competing with anyone. There’s enough work in this industry for everybody. Also, I am very happy when other people’s films do well. Think of it this way: there’s so much money coming into the film industry and that it will help us make better films. Thinking and analysing somebody else’s success is just bolstering negativity. Why should you be pressurised into thinking all that?
Q: You have been in the industry for over a decade. How difficult is to stay relevant?
A: I want to experiment with every project I take on. Whether it’s a thriller like Special Chabbis or a comedy like Oh My God or an action drama like Holiday, I want to get a taste of a variety of genres. My dream is that when I am lying in the hospital bed as an old, weak man, the doctor who will treat me should say that I did a fine job of playing the role of a physician too. I want to play every kind of role that is out there and I want to keep challenging myself.
