Akshay Kumar (born 9 September 1967) is an Indian actor and producer who works in Hindi films. He is one of the most prolific stars in Bollywood. A trained martial artist, he rose to fame as an action hero in the Khiladi films of the 1990s. He later became known for comedies such as Hera Pheri and for patriotic and socially themed films such as Airlift, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and Pad Man. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for Rustom and received the Padma Shri in 2009.
Quick Facts
| Birth name | Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia |
| Nickname | Khiladi Kumar |
| Born | 9 September 1967, Delhi, India |
| Age | 59 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actor, producer, martial artist |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Spouse | Twinkle Khanna (m. 2001) |
| Children | 2 (Aarav, Nitara) |
| Known for | Khiladi series, Hera Pheri, Namastey London, Rustom, Airlift, Pad Man, Kesari |
Early Life
Kumar was born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia in Delhi into a Punjabi family. His father was an officer in the Indian Army. He was drawn to martial arts as a boy and later spent several years in Bangkok, Thailand, training in Muay Thai. To support himself there he worked as a chef and waiter. After returning to India he taught martial arts in Mumbai, and one of his students suggested he try modelling, which led to films.
Career
After a small part as a karate instructor in Aaj (1987), Kumar played his first lead in Saugandh (1991). The thriller Khiladi (1992) made him a star and started a long series of “Khiladi” films. He also starred in the action hit Mohra (1994), becoming known for performing his own stunts.
Priyadarshan’s comedy Hera Pheri (2000) showed his comic timing, and it became a cult classic. He also starred in the romantic drama Dhadkan (2000) and the thriller Aitraaz (2004) with Priyanka Chopra. His hits of the decade included Namastey London (2007), Welcome (2007) and Singh Is Kinng (2008). He also starred in the Housefull comedy series.
From the 2010s Kumar made more films with social or patriotic themes. These included OMG – Oh My God! (2012), Special 26 (2013) and Baby (2015). Airlift (2016) dramatised the evacuation of Indians from Kuwait in 1990. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the naval-officer courtroom drama Rustom (2016). He promoted sanitation in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017) and menstrual hygiene in Pad Man (2018). In 2019 he had four hits: Kesari, Mission Mangal, Housefull 4 and Good Newwz, the last with Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kiara Advani and Diljit Dosanjh. Forbes listed him among the world’s highest-paid actors for several years in a row.
After Sooryavanshi (2021), several of Kumar’s films underperformed. OMG 2 (2023) was a success, and in 2025 Housefull 5 and the courtroom comedy Jolly LLB 3 both did well. His horror comedy Bhooth Bangla (2026), which reunited him with Priyadarshan, was a hit.
Personal Life
Kumar married the actress and writer Twinkle Khanna, daughter of Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia, in January 2001. They have a son, Aarav, and a daughter, Nitara. He held Canadian citizenship for some years and received Indian citizenship again in 2023. He is known for his disciplined routine and fitness.
Awards and Honours
Selected Filmography
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Akshay Kumar born?
Akshay Kumar was born on 9 September 1967 in Delhi, India and is 59 years old.
What is Akshay Kumar known for?
Known for: Khiladi series, Hera Pheri, Namastey London, Rustom, Airlift, Pad Man, Kesari.
Featured image: Akshay Kumar at the 53rd International Film Festival of India, Goa, November 2022. Photo by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, licensed under Government Open Data License – India, via Wikimedia Commons.
