Action superstar Akshay Kumar and the Khiladi series!

Update: This super popular article on Akshay Kumar was first published on October 25 2012. With less than 24 hours for the release of Akshay’s latest films ‘Brothers’, which promises to take action to the next level, this article is a must read for our new visitors.

I still have vague impressions of me standing in scorching sun, with my younger brothers, in a long queue outside one of the premium single screen theatres at Kanpur. Most of those standing in line were kids like us who knew nothing about the film and had just come to watch an action hero from Bollywood battle WWE Legend ‘The UNDERTAKER’. 16 years later, today, that theatre has been transformed into a shopping mall, ‘The Dead Man’ is still unbeaten at WrestleMania (20-0) and ‘Akshay Kumar’ has become a ‘ROWDY Superstar’.

A thrilling screenplay in grandeur locale with sultry songs, hilarious sequences and death defying stunts a la the Bond series meets a Jackie Chan. That’s what Khiladi is. Recently, the teaser trailer of the eagerly anticipated Khiladi 786 was launched which declared Khiladi as “The Biggest Franchise of Indian Cinema”. We thought it can’t be a better time to peep into the past of Khiladi and analyze how true their claim is.

The Daredevil Khiladi

In an industry where action was always considered synonymous to muscular power (courtesy the Deol’s), Akshay Kumar made his own identity. He has made a huge contribution (particularly his Khiladi films) for the escalation of Martial Arts, Karate and Street Fighting in Bollywood. Whether his films were hit or flop, a tag which always remained with Akki was that of an Action Hero.

Today when almost all of his contemporaries (possibly barring Ajay Devgn) and even the gen-next stars depend upon harness, technology and body doubles for all action sequences, Akki takes an opposite route. In his own words at a recent press meet, Akshay said ‘The day I  find myself unable to do my own stunts, I will stop doing action films’. I guess that statement says it all. The Khiladi series is deficient without its action sequences.

TOP 3 Khiladi Action Scenes

Khiladi 420 - Statutory Warning: This isn’t a computer game, but a living man made of bone and flesh just like us standing over a glider in air. Those with weak hearts can skip watching this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JA7Ohqw0GE

Khiladiyo Ka Khiladi - This film is my most favorite from the Khiladi franchise. It boasts of countless jaw dropping stunts – Akki vs Undertaker fights (Kumar even broke his back while lifting ‘The Phenom’ during the pre-climax setting at the temple) ; Street Fight sequence which had Akshay playing with his favorite ‘Flying Kicks’ ; Roof blowing climax where Akki jumps from a bridge and gets crushed under an over craft . But my favorite is this martial art sequence where Akshay does a full split and kills Dang. Jai Mata Di!

Sabse Bada Khiladi – Akshay converted this airbase into his action playground during the climax of Sabse Bada Khiladi. Watch some never before seen stunts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIj9MG6A9Do

The Khiladi and his Seven Queens

Akshay has always been a ladies’ man. He had the privilege of working with a new heroine in each of the Khiladi films in the series. As Newton said, every action has an equal and opposite reaction, even Akshay had to face the side-effects in the form of rumors and allegations of linkups with almost all his leading ladies. From Ayesha Jhulka to Shilpa Shetty, Mamta Kulkarni or Raveena Tandon, not to forget yesteryear queen Rekha, he was in a way crowned as Bollywood’s Playboy by the media in the 90s.

But, as they say, the trees that are slow to grow and bear most adversities are the ones that produce the best fruits. Akshay Kumar got the love of his life, Twinkle Khanna, who starred opposite him in International Khiladi and both are happily married today. Now, one waits to see what sort of chemistry Akshay shares with Asin in Khiladi 786. The fact that they were accepted positively by the audience as a pair in Housefull 2 only increases the  excitement level of moviegoers.

Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hGUqU9htEE

In 2007-08, when Akshay was at the peak of his success, Colors Channel was launched. The TV Channel wanted to make an instant impact and thought of the Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi with the Khiladi himself. The show topped all TRP charts that year to provide a blockbuster launch for Colors and made it the No.1 TV Channel. Akki has hosted 3 out of 4 seasons of this tele-action series. Interestingly, the only unsuccessful season is the one where Akshay was excluded.

Khiladi: Box Office Scrutiny

Khiladi Films Box OfficeKhiladi Films Box Office

The Khiladi series has a fair Success Rate of around 57% (4 Hits out of 7) but it is certainly behind Munnabhai, Krrish, Golmaal, Housefull, Don and  Hera Pheri (each recording 100% Success). Though one can always argue my comparisons as all these franchises just have 2-3 films against 7 Khiladi movies. A key point which cannot be overlooked is that all of these films were released when Akshay was not a Superstar, but just an Action Hero. This very notion set the records pretty straight. If Khiladi 786 hits bull’s eye, it would undeniably take over the title of Numero Uno from Khiladiyo Ka Khiladi, which is the most successful film of the lot. Last word – Khiladi may not be the most successful but it’s definitely the biggest franchise in Bollywood.

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85 Comments

  • Khiladi is undoubtedly biggest and most successfull franchise..Khiladi 786 will be Super hit (My prediction: 105-110cr)

  • One of the most finest action hero of All time.
    Hail Akshay Kumar. Someone has correctly said that to do the stunts you should have a “Jigar” , not a heart and I can say without any doubt that Akshay has that “Jigar”.
    Happy b’day Akshay. May god give you a long life and your keep on entertaining us for years.

  • Action ka King – Akshay Kumar. The one and only.

    Jo hum sochte hain, voh to voh karta hi hain, par jo hum kabhi nahin soche, voh bhi badey aaram se karta hain – Rowdy Kumar, Akshay.

    Of the Khiladi series, i like the first Khiladi, then Main Khiladi tu Anadi, and finally Sabse Bada Khiladi.

    I wish Dhoom 4 with either Salman or Akshay. If it is Akshay, it should have a title mixture of Dhoom and Khiladi. It would be rocking.

  • Wish Akki a very happy 47th Birthday! One of the 90s heroes that survived until today…All the best!

    And people should know difference between actions and stunts. Akki is the best in both being a martial artist but it doesn’t mean that others are bad..Some known action heroes today: Akki, Ajay, Salman…

    @Indicine, publish new article on him. Why are you reposting the old articles, when you can three articles on the same topic SRK’s so-called abs????

  • ur info about the phenom is something wrong specially about his streak because now in 2014 “The Dead Man” streak had conquered by “The Beast Incornate” Brock Lesnar, now Wrestlmania streak is 21-1, second thing that the entire world knows that was the local undertaker not original, but according to being a fan of Akki sir i give a huge applause to him and his action in the movie K.K.K.

    Love u Akki sir and best wishes for BABY (COME ON BABY) (GO BABY GO)

  • where is babaji who always says I’m akki fan.still I didn’t find his comment on this article.
    happy birthday akki.
    the khiladi.

  • happy b’day dear akshay sir. You are inspirational to many,the gift which you gave bollywood no any actor can. There is special place in corner of my heart .long live.

  • Happy Birthday AK – 47 . Out of all the Khiladi movies i have seen – Khiladi, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, MR. And MRS. Khiladi, International Khiladi and Khiladi 786 . I have seen Main Khiladi tu Anari and Sabse Bada Khiladi in bits and pieces . According to me KKK is the best movie in the Khiladi series and is also my favourite . Definitely Akshay Kumar is the best actor in Action Genre . Waiting for Shaukeens and Baby . @ One thing Indicine and all other users – In the movie Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi Akshay has lifted a wrestler on his own because of which his back was broken and he had a slip disc and underwent Surgery . But the important fact is that that wrestler was actually not Undertaker but it was another wrestler . The fact is that Undertaker was never a part of KKK . But still Hats off to Akshay .

  • @sir ranbir
    Still K786 got a better rating than gunday on imdb..lol
    Gunday put the bollywood to shame by becoming the worst film on imdb..shame

  • indicine plz edit the article.

    the undertaker in khiladiyo ka khiladi was not original mark callaway. he was the imposter of the undertaker.

  • Still no PK article or TWMR third weekend collections update or DDD monday update but you have time to republish this piece of crap… Is this what you guys do all day at the office thinking of which old crapgiri articles to republish just so that you can get all get back to youtube liking Sarooks trailers…

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