Bollywood’s original Khiladi, Akshay Kumar, has built an unmatched legacy when it comes to performing death-defying stunts on screen. From high-octane rooftop jumps in the Khiladi series to breathtaking underwater and aerial sequences in films like Blue and Holiday, Akshay has always pushed the boundaries of action in Indian cinema.
Now, in a candid chat with Pinkvilla, the superstar has revealed an unexpected source of inspiration for his action-packed scenes — the classic cartoon Tom & Jerry!
Akshay Kumar Credits Tom & Jerry for His Action Sequences
Sharing the quirky secret behind his iconic stunts, Akshay said, “Do you know where I draw all this inspiration from? All the stunts I’ve done? You won’t believe it, from Tom & Jerry. I love watching Tom & Jerry, I think it's the most violent show. It's very violent, even though it's apparently made for kids."
He continued, "If you actually see it, there’s so much action, it’s brutal. Each episode is 10 or 12 minutes long and packed with action. I’ve taken so much inspiration from it.”
Calls Tom & Jerry a Violent and Brutal Show
Elaborating further, the actor added, “I remember Tom coming down from a helicopter, hanging and picking up Jerry — I did that in Sabse Bada Khiladi. Then Tom hanging from a plane — I recreated that in Khiladi 420. There’s another scene where Tom puts a hammock under a helicopter and both he and Jerry sit down and have a glass of wine — I did that in Khatron Ke Khiladi. You can actually get a lot of action ideas from Tom & Jerry."
"It’s the best action film I’ve ever seen. People watch it thinking it’s humorous, but it’s not. In one episode, Tom breaks the whole house with a bat. It’s so violent. Please understand — it’s a violent show you’re showing your kids!”
What’s Next for Akshay Kumar?
On the work front, Akshay will make a special appearance as Lord Shiva in Kannappa, starring Vishnu Manchu and Mohan Babu, with cameos by Prabhas and Mohanlal. The film is set to hit theatres on 27 June. In addition, Akshay has other exciting projects lined up, including Welcome to the Jungle and Priyadarshan’s Bhooth Bangla, co-starring Wamiqa Gabbi and Paresh Rawal.
