Akshaye Khanna is back again onscreen after taking some time off for quite some time. He made a quiet comeback in ‘Dishoom’ last year and next month, he will be seen in ‘Mom’. The film is being promoted as a Sridevi film since she plays the lead role in this. If he does not have a movie to promote, Akshaye stays out of the limelight. He was last seen at the funeral of his father, Vinod Khanna. Whatever his deal is with his personal life, Akshaye is a great actor. Like he said himself in this interview, he took some time off and was still able to come back in great roles. He’s great in different types of characters and the best thing about him is that he doesn’t have to shout from rooftops about his talent. Or he doesn’t need people to tell the media how great he is, his talent speaks for himself. Here’s Akshaye Khanna in his own words talk to Mid-day newspaper about his upcoming film, failure, his time off and being a recluse.

Akshaye Khanna Interview

Akshaye on why he decided to sign ‘Mom’

Mom is a beautiful story with emotional depth. There is menace, mystery and it’s layered with intrigue. I watched the film about a week ago. It is the kind of stuff that will stay with people. But then again, I am hardly objective about my own work. I can tell my bad films from the good, but that’s about it. Mom is the kind of movie which made me feel. ‘Thank God I said yes’, it’s a thriller, but there’s way too much to it than just suspense.

Akshaye on dealing with failure

In the entertainment universe, the actor is the most greedy and needy creature of the lot. Dealing with failure and success is as easy as it is difficult. People who have spent a substantial amount of time in public life know how to grapple with it. The emphasis is to keep the creative process going regardless of the fate of a film.

Akshaye on how he changed after his time off

Nothing. I am still me. What probably hit me hard was that I value being on a film set. The sabbatical was a good thing. If an actor stops acting, something inside him crumbles and dies. Moreover, the audience in India barely gives them as many chances to entertain them. I would be a fool if I didn’t realise how fortunate I am to be getting good work despite the break and the flops. I can’t imagine why I deserve this chance. Maybe I have done something right for this to happen to me.

Akshaye on whether he’s lured by the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world

Yes and no. Just to say no, would be lying. The aspiration of any artiste is to be loved. Recognition, fame, appreciation – it all comes in a package. It’s a part of what I signed up for when I became an actor. If you take away his body of work, Salman Khan will also collapse as a superstar.

Akshaye on being known as a recluse

There’s nothing wrong with it or to be ashamed of. I have always been this person. It might be in conflict with how the world functions today. Anyone from this industry must conduct his career differently. An actor should be more public, social and on-the- face. I should change my ways in the coming years. Who knows… I could be tweeting my heart out. I need to be more practical. I have been stupid to not put myself out there. It isn’t the most sensible thing to do. Actors need to be more flexible. I think I have made tremendous progress. I have a morbid fear of the press, being seen and being talked about. There is no logical reason behind it. Nothing specific triggered it. But if I saw myself on a magazine cover, I would look away. I would shut a paper if there is an interview of mine. I had become so comfortable with my solitude, that all this didn’t matter. But, I am in the midst of a diabolical change and I think the fear is fading away finally. I don’t think people have agendas against each other anymore.