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Know your inner self
In an industry where most actors are worried about their screen time, Akshay Kumar is an exception. In an interview with Bombay Times, ahead of the release of his next, ‘Mission Mangal’, the actor said that he just wants to be part of a great film. He said, At times, I fail to understand how things work in this industry. I have always said that it is good to be part of a great film in which you might not have a big role. You must think whether the film and the story are great or not, rather than wondering mera role kitna hai. If you think of the latter, then, you are being very small-minded. It is a mindset that some actors have. These women in ‘Mission Mangal’ are leading the show. The stage is theirs. I am just standing behind them and applauding their achievements.”
He added that he wouldn’t mind playing a small part in a film, if he likes the role. “I would do it and I have done it earlier, too. When Raj Kumar Santoshi had offered me ‘Khakee’ (2004), he told me, ‘Yeh chhota role hai, tu karega?’ I said, ‘Haan, main karunga!’ That role was initially offered to Paresh Rawal, but then, they approached me and tweaked it a bit. The film mostly belonged to Amitabh Bachchan and Ajay Devgn, and my character died at interval point. It was a small role, but I loved what Raj Kumar Santoshi had made. Even today, when I interact with policemen, they often tell me, ‘Woh aapki ‘Khakee’ dekhi thi, maza aaya hai. Woh film mein hai baat!’
