New-age actors don’t need any advice, says Akshaye Khanna

Akshaye Khanna, the reticent actor, has been away from the limelight for far too long, as even his comeback film Dishoom released last year. This time around, the actor will be seen sharing screen space with Sridevi and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the upcoming film, Mom. The actor plays a tough cop in the film. Talking about working with Sridevi for the first time, he said, “It’s a great opportunity to be able to work with such an immense talent. I have been in this industry for 23 years, but I felt so inadequate working with her as there is so much to learn from her.”

Ask him about his expectations from the movie, and he says in his inimitable style, “The love and respect from the team has been incredible. I do hope the audience also appreciates the film. We’ve done our best. Keeping the box office collections aside, the success or failure of a movie is crucial. Just as any other profession, we do our best and leave the rest to fate.”

Sharing about his comeback film, Akshay adds, “When Dishoom came my way, I was hungering for a performance. I am choosy, but I am an artiste at the end of the day. Artistes must pursue what they love. If they don’t, it suffocates them. I had been there, so I persisted. And just like that, post Dishoom I bagged Itefaq.” Giving a sneak peek about Itefaq, he mentions it is a murder mystery loosely based on Rajesh Khanna’s yesteryear film by the same name.

Rating himself as an actor, Akshay says philosophically, “Performance is a universally subjective matter. I don’t intellectualise it. I only follow the script and the director. I look at real people for inspiration. The camera can capture the slightest expression, and hence I prefer interacting with it.”

“I used to enjoy travelling, but as I am getting older, getting onto flights does not seem to entice me anymore. I do enjoy watching movies. And I never bunk my gym routine. As an athlete and an avid badminton player, I get irritable if I miss an exercise schedule,” adds the actor.

And lastly, any words for the new crop of actors, we ask. “The new age kids are more clued in and don’t need any advice. They know what they want and how to achieve it. In fact, we could do with some notes from this generation,” he concludes, with that twinkle in his eye.