New Delhi, January 28: Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has ruled out his entry in active politics, but has expressed interest to work on two key areas: health and sports.
Replying to questions from Rajat Sharma in India TV show Aap Ki Adalat, to be telecast tonight, the actor said: "I do not want to enter politics. I have no interest. But I want to work on two key areas in which I have knowledge: health and sports."
Asked by Rajat Sharma whether he was interested to become a minister, Akshay Kumar said: "It is not necessary for one to become a minister to get things done. I don't want to become a minister".
The actor said, he reacted to the Bengaluru New Year Eve molestation incidents because it was every man's duty to protect women. "Few people know that I run a school where nearly 15,000 girls have been taught martial arts in Mumbai alone."
"Similarly, I welcomed our army's surgical strike inside Pakistan. The whole world wants terrorism to end. I am also going to make a film "Toilet-Ek Prem Katha" on Swacch Bharat mission. 54 percent Indians do not have toilets, it is a shame."
The Bollywood superstar repeated his earlier charge that he was offered half the price for performing at an awards nite and an award in return, but he refused. "I told the organisers, you pay me in full for my performance, and you can keep the award."
Hitting out at awards given in Bollywood, Akshay Kumar, who has worked in more than 100 films in the last 25 years, said: "If you go by awards given at awards nite, I still do not know acting."
The actor refuted media reports about his "tiff" with Priyanka Chopra, Ekta Kapoor and Farah Khan. "I have done four films with Priyanka till now, and if I am offered another film, I am ready do. These media reports are baseless. Except for Rani Mukerjee, I have worked with most of the Bollywood female actors."
Akshay Kumar said, the secret behind his success in film industry was that he was always punctual and professional, and ensured that films are completed within schedule.
"I normally take 35-40 days to complete a film. On an average I do four films a year, and yet there are 200 days left. I should be doing nine films. If Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible took only 42 days to complete, I do not know why Bollywood films should take 90 to 150 days to complete."
The Bollywood superstar said, luck played a big role in his life. "I used to take polka jewellery from Delhi's Lajpat Nagar to sell them in Mumbai, worked as a spot boy in Kolkata, then worked in Dhaka and Bangkok. I never thought I would become a superstar. When I faced the camera in Bollywood, it was the first time I had seen a camera. I knew nothing about acting."
"I will give 65 to 70 pc credit for my success to luck, and the remaining 30 pc to hard work", said the actor.
Akshay Kumar in Rajat Sharma's show Aap Ki Adalat, will be telecast tonight at 10 pm on India TV. The repeat telecast will take place tomorrow, SunJan 29 at 10 am and 10 pm.
