Comedy is the toughest, never got its due: Akshay Kumar

Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar credited filmmakers Priyadarshan, Rajkumar Santoshi and late Neeraj Vora for making him understand comedy, the genre he thinks still hasn’t got its due in the film industry.

Kumar attended the second day of the India Today Conclave held in New Delhi on Saturday, where he was asked about the filmmakers he has worked with in the last 30 years. The actor noted he has collaborated with over 70 directors and starred in 150 films.

“I have worked on around 150 films, and I have worked with around 70 directors. But there is a tuning with Priyadarshan; it’s fun to work with him. I have learnt a lot of comedy from him. Rajkumar Santoshi is also one of the directors from whom I have learnt a lot. There was another late director and writer, Neeraj Vora. These are the three people, if I got to know even the ‘C’ of comedy, it’s because of them,” Kumar said.

The actor, who is reuniting with Priyadarshan for “Bhooth Bangla”, which is set to release on April 10, spoke in details about the comedy and said it’s the toughest genre.

“Comedy can’t be taught; it comes from inside. You start getting to know about it. If I talk about the film industry, if there is any actor who does comedy, you will never have them getting the Best Actor award. They don’t consider it. Whereas, if you ask the biggest actors, comedy is the toughest to do.

“To make someone laugh. When it comes to making someone cry, a situation can do that. You can have glycerin and cry, but comedy is the toughest, and unfortunately, it never got its due. Never. I have never come across any award event where the actor who did the comedy in the entire film got the Best Actor award,” he added.

Asked about the preference of the audience, the actor said the film industry is like a circle, but it’s challenging to know what the moviegoers will approve. Kumar gave examples of horror-comedy franchise “Stree” and Aditya Dhar’s latest directorial “Dhurandhar”, featuring Ranveer Singh.

“The film industry is like a circle, after every 2-3 years, everything changes, the audience keeps on changing what they want, everything changes. Take, for example, ‘Dhurandhar’, an action film. It’s nice, people have enjoyed it, and the hero is Ranveer Singh, who does action.

“Very angry young men kind of thing, whereas it wasn’t there in between. If I take 5-6 years before now, when I was doing social films, be it ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’, ‘Pad Man’, those would work. So everything keeps on changing; there’s a time of horror comedy now. People are liking the horror comedy, ‘Stree’. We don’t know what they will like next,” he said.

Kumar, known for finishing 3-4 films every year, was asked about his preparation, to which he replied he ensures to read the script.

“Several people say that I do four films, and I do it because I have so much time. There are 365 days in a year… Before starting the film, I read the script for more than 100 times, and that is why the flow of the film goes… My films must be completed in 50-55 days, and that’s why I can succeed in doing it,” he said, adding he takes enough days off from his work in the process.

The actor noted there was a time he gave 16-17 back-to-back flops. “I have always flown like water…I have never planned anything, I have always left myself… I also gave flops. There was a time I gave 16-17 flops back to back, but I can proudly say I still had work. Even at that time, I had 4-5 films because I believe discipline is a key thing, and I also want to tell people who want to enter this industry, to ensure to have discipline,” he said.

Asked if there’s competition for being on the top, Kumar said, “There can be regret (of not being in certain projects), but there’s no jealousy. We are actors, we get our work, and mentality of number one, two, three, because of this, you don’t have happiness, you only strive that you want to be above.”

The actor, who also has “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Golmaal 5” in the lineup, said he would want to keep doing films until he is “shot down” in the industry. “I love films, I want to do different kind of films, whether it’s action, tragedy, comedy, everything, I want to try everything. I got an opportunity in such a population, only a few get a chance, so I got a chance. I have been chosen, people want me, they watch my films, they spend Rs 200-300 for each film, why won’t I do it? I will try to give my best to them and I will keep on working in this industry till they have to shoot me down,” he said.