AKSHAY KUMAR BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, MOVIES & FACTS

Akshay Kumar, born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia on 9 September 1967, is one of Hindi cinema's most dependable leading men, with more than 100 films across a career spanning 1991 to the present. He first broke through as the action hero of Khiladi (1992), earning the nickname Khiladi Kumar (also known as Akki), then reinvented himself as a comedy star with Hera Pheri (2000) before returning to acclaimed dramatic roles such as Rustom (2016), for which he won the National Film Award for Best Actor. His journey runs from the Khiladi action era through the Housefull comedy franchise to National Award-winning drama. On his birthplace the sources differ in one line: Britannica, Simple Wikipedia, Last.fm and BookMyShow list Amritsar, while Wikipedia notes Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi (his father Hari Om Bhatia was from Amritsar and his mother Aruna Bhatia was of Kashmir roots); he was raised in Delhi and later Mumbai.

Image: Akshay Kumar at the Pitch To Get Rich press conference, Bandra, November 2025 — Wikimedia Commons, by Bollywood Hungama, CC BY 3.0

Quick Facts

Real Name: Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia
Born: 9 September 1967 (age 59 as of Oct 2026)
Birthplace: Amritsar (per Britannica/Simple Wikipedia/BookMyShow); Wikipedia notes Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi
Nicknames: Khiladi Kumar, Akki
Debut: Saugandh (1991)
Years Active: 1991–present
Height: approx. 1.8–1.85 m
Spouse: Twinkle Khanna (2001)
Children: Aarav, Nitara

Early Life

Akshay Kumar was born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia on 9 September 1967. His father, Hari Om Bhatia, was an army officer from Amritsar who later worked as an accountant with UNICEF, and his mother, Aruna Bhatia, was of Kashmir roots. He has a sister, Alka Bhatia. He grew up in the Chandni Chowk area of Delhi before the family moved to Mumbai.

He studied at Don Bosco High School and then Guru Nanak Khalsa College, but dropped out of college. As a teenager he travelled to Bangkok, where he spent five years learning Muay Thai; during that time he worked as a chef and a waiter. He also earned a black belt in Taekwondo. After returning to India he worked as a martial-arts instructor in Mumbai and took up modelling assignments, which eventually led him toward films.

His very first screen appearance came in Aaj (1987). He took the name "Akshay" from the character played by Kumar Gaurav in that film and adopted "Kumar" as his screen surname, becoming Akshay Kumar.

Career

Akshay Kumar made his debut as a leading man with Saugandh (1991), but his breakthrough arrived a year later with Khiladi (1992), the action thriller that launched the popular Khiladi series and fixed his screen identity as the "Khiladi" of Bollywood.

After years as an action hero, he reinvented himself in comedy with the cult hit Hera Pheri (2000). His versatility brought him two Filmfare Awards in different categories: Best Villain for Ajnabee (2002) and Best Comedian for Garam Masala (2005). He went on to anchor the successful Housefull comedy franchise.

The 2010s marked a sustained box-office run with films such as Rowdy Rathore (2012), Special 26 (2013), Airlift (2016) and Rustom (2016). His performance in Rustom won him the National Film Award for Best Actor (the award, for the 2016 film, was presented in 2017). He also headlined socially themed hits like Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017) and Pad Man (2018), followed by a strong 2019 with Kesari, Mission Mangal and Good Newwz. Later credits include Sooryavanshi (2021) and OMG 2 (2023).

His honours include the Padma Shri, awarded in 2009, and an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Windsor in 2008.

Recent Work (2024–2026)

In 2024 he appeared in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (released April 11), Sarfira (July 12) and Khel Khel Mein (August 15), alongside cameo appearances in Singham Again (November 1) and Stree 2.

2025 shaped up as a comeback year: Sky Force (January 24), Kesari Chapter 2 (April 18), Housefull 5 (June 6), a cameo as Shiva in Kannappa (June 27) and Jolly LLB 3 (September 19).

In 2026 he starred in Bhooth Bangla (released April 2026), a horror-comedy directed by Priyadarshan — their first film together since Khatta Meetha (2010) — which emerged as one of the year's highest-grossing Hindi films.

On the upcoming slate, all currently unconfirmed: Welcome to the Jungle (date uncertain — June 26 or December 25, 2026 per different sources), Haiwaan (announced, co-starring Saif Ali Khan) and an untitled Anees Bazmee comedy (December 4, 2026 per some trade sources).

Personal Life

Akshay Kumar married author and former actress Twinkle Khanna — the daughter of Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia — in 2001. The couple has two children, Aarav and Nitara.

He is known for a disciplined fitness routine rooted in his martial-arts background, and for philanthropic work that includes support for the families of Armed Forces personnel and his association with the Swachh Bharat cleanliness campaign.

On citizenship: he held Canadian citizenship from 2011 to 2023, and regained Indian citizenship in August 2023.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Akshay Kumar's real name?

His real name is Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia. He took the name "Akshay" from the character played by Kumar Gaurav in his first film Aaj (1987).

How old is Akshay Kumar?

He was born on 9 September 1967, which makes him 59 years old as of October 2026.

Which film won Akshay Kumar the National Award?

He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for Rustom (2016); the award was presented in 2017. He also received the Padma Shri in 2009.

What is Akshay Kumar's latest movie in 2026?

His latest 2026 release is Bhooth Bangla (April 2026), a horror-comedy marking his reunion with director Priyadarshan, which became one of the year's biggest Hindi box-office hits.

Fans of Hindi cinema may also like our Salman Khan biography, Aamir Khan biography, Amitabh Bachchan biography and Kishore Kumar biography. For lyrics, check out our Saare Bolo Bewafa lyrics page.