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There was plenty of laughter, a few life lessons and more than a handful of memorable one-liners when Akshay Kumar and Disha Patani joined us on the Bombay Times Lounge. With fans travelling from far and wide to be part of the show, Akshay had the audience hooked with his stories, humour and spontaneous exchanges, while Disha offered refreshingly honest insights into her journey. The duo will be seen this week in Ahmed Khan’s upcoming ensemble comedy, Welcome To The Jungle. Excerpts.


A lot of actors who do comedy really well say that one of the most important qualities one needs to have is the ability to laugh at oneself. Is that something you believe too?
Akshay: Absolutely. It’s better to make fun of yourself, rather than making fun of other people, if I crack a joke, it’s usually about myself. That way, nobody else feels bad. At many award nights, I often see people get laughs by putting others down. I don’t agree with that.

While shooting Welcome to the Jungle, were there a lot of scenes where the cast kept laughing long after the director said ‘cut’?
Akshay: In reality what happens on set is that by the time you’re shooting a scene, you’ve rehearsed it so many times that you’ve already laughed through it. During the actual take, it doesn’t seem funny anymore (to the actors). Then you’re just waiting to see whether the audience laughs. I watched the film the other day and I laughed a lot. Now I’m just waiting to see how the audience reacts.

Akshay, over three decades in the industry and you’ve remained relevant through changing trends, audiences and eras of cinema. Is reinvention something you consciously pursue, or is it simply a natural part of your journey?
When I entered the industry, I came here to earn money. I didn’t know anything about cameras or acting. I loved performing stunts. I’d wake up, go to work, and enjoy myself. Initially, people only offered me action films. But over time, I started falling in love with acting. Then I met filmmakers like Priyadarshan , Rajkumar Santoshi, Neeraj Vora, and many others. I started loving characters and wanted to do different roles. I enjoy deconstructing myself. I don’t want a one-dimensional image. I don’t want people to see me only as an action hero or only as a comedian. I want to keep evolving.

You’ve always had a reputation for being disciplined and incredibly hardworking. Do you think those qualities have contributed as much to your longevity as talent has?
Akshay: I work hard, but I take my time off. I get around 120 days off every year. If you are talking about work ethic, yes, you need to have that. I have always said this ki acting 17-20 percent bhi aati hai toh chal jayega, insaan accha hona chahiye. If you want to survive in this industry, it is important to be a good person and if you are punctual, and respectful of yourproducer’s time — this industry has a lot to offer you. That applies to everyone — character actors, junior artistes, dancers, and everyone else.

Disha, you came to Mumbai nearly a decade ago with no film background and built your career from the ground up. What has that journey taught you, and has it made you stronger?
I’ve learned to believe in myself more and I believe that you should listen to everyone but ultimately, do what your heart tells you. I trust my intuition much more now. It’s been a beautiful journey. I’ve met wonderful people and made wonderful friends. At the end of the day, it’s about the time you spend with people, and I’ve been lucky to have good people around me.

The world is changing at a dizzying pace. From new trends, new ways of communicating to an entirely different digital culture - the younger generation seems to be experiencing the world very differently from us. Do your children help you see the world through a new lens?
Akshay: Yes, absolutely. I believe I have seen the world, but yeh samay joh hai, yeh unki aankhon se dekhne ka samay hai because they teach you so many things. For instance, when my son (Aarav) talks about fashion, I’m taken aback by how much knowledge he has at just 23. My daughter (Nitara) uses words that I don’t understand. Sometimes when she is sitting next to me and talking to her friends on the phone…I don’t know what she is talking about. They speak a different language. There’s a lot to learn from the young breed. If you want to survive, then you have to learn from them and learn their language.

Akshay, who is your toughest critic?
My better half (Twinkle).

Is her feedback, criticism brutal?
Brutal toh kuch bhi nahin hai. She can kill me with her words (laughs). Last week I was dubbing for Priyadarshan sir’s film, and I got a message from her while he was sitting next to me. I told him, Priyan sir, aaj main bahut khush hoon. He asked, ‘Kya hua?’ I said that my wife has sent me a message saying, ‘I loved your trailer.’ I am telling you, I don’t always get such messages. I have done many films where she has come and told me, ‘What rubbish is this?’ (laughs).

How do you react to it?
There is nothing to react to. I just put my head down and say... okay, I will try next time. Then, if the movie works, she says, ‘I don’t know how it ran.’

Akshay, you’ve seen many phases of the industry and experienced both tremendous success and the ups and downs that come with it. Has your relationship with success changed over the years?
I believe that today success is yours, tomorrow it might not be, and someday it could come back. So don’t take success too seriously. Take the day as it comes. Take the week as it comes and just keep on working with utmost honesty.

Disha, which is the moment in your career when you felt that now I belong here?
I don’t think I have ever felt that. Since childhood, I have always felt like an outcast. I never felt like I belonged to one place. In my mind I am a wanderer and I think it is fine to be that way. You don’t always have to belong somewhere.

Watch the full episode of the Bombay Times Lounge with Akshay Kumar and Disha Patani on the Bombay Times YouTube channel.
Location courtesy: Luuma House