Akshay Kumar's real name is Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia. He used to cook Chinese food on the streets of Bangkok where he studied martial arts. With the dream to be a star he came to Mumbai but soon gave up hope. To make both ends meet he used to teach martial arts and it was one of his students who advised him to take up modeling. Charagh Din shirts and Red & White cigarettes were some of the earlier ads that he did. It did not take long for filmmakers to notice this model who was a perfect combo of physique and looks.

His breakthrough performance was in Raj Sippy's Saugandh (1991). After that he did Deedar opposite Karisma Kapoor and Dancer with newcomer Keerti Singh. Thses films didn't do well at the box office. Akshay first brush with limelight came with Abbas Mustan's Khiladi. The film not only fetched him recognition as an actor but also popularly tagged him as a Khiladi. Followed innumerable forgettable films; he lit the spotlight once again with Main Khiladi Tu Anari. Films like Mohra and international Khiladi further compounded his status as an actor. Akshay had the biggest hit in Awara Paagal Deewana.

Akshay Kumar was also considered as a playboy and is known to have a string of relationships starting from Ayesha Jhulka, Raveena Tandon, Shilpa Shetty, Pooja Batra and he finally got married to Twinkle Khanna. Akshay had a three-year relationship with Raveena and recently it was disclosed by Raveena that she was infact married to Akshay and the divorce had not come through. Akshay's relationship with Shilpa Shetty also turned out to be bitter when he two timed her with Twinkle. Shilpa initially chose to keep mum because she was shooting for Dhadkan and had pinned her hopes on that movie. The film when released was declared a hit and as soon as that was done Shilpa Shetty gave interviews left, right and center washing dirty linen in public saying that Akshay had cheated her and lied to her.

Today Akshay is a happily married man and a proud father of a boy named Aarav. He is now looking forward to Madhur Bhandarkar's Aan and Rajkumar Santoshi's Khakee.