In a shocking revelation that highlights the brutal realities of Bollywood, acclaimed filmmaker Suneel Darshan has opened up about the difficult phase superstar Akshay Kumar faced early in his career, where producers openly dismissed him as 'kachra' or garbage.
The Dark Phase of Rejection
During a recent candid interview with Bollywood Thikana, director Suneel Darshan reflected on his close bond with Akshay Kumar and recalled a period when the now A-list star faced consecutive film failures and widespread rejection from industry insiders.
During this challenging time, major filmmakers and producers held the opinion that Akshay was 'kachra' or rubbish, Darshan revealed. The director specifically mentioned that two of what would become landmark films in Kumar's career – Dhadkan and Hera Pheri – were put on hold or shelved entirely due to this perception.
A Star in Tears and a Director's Support
Darshan shared a particularly emotional incident that underscored the depth of Akshay Kumar's despair. The actor once came to Darshan's office in tears after a producer had misbehaved with him just before a film's release.
The producer had not put up a single poster for the film scheduled to release that Friday and spoke very rudely to Kumar, saying heartbreaking things that left the actor devastated. Recognizing that his lead actor's broken morale could affect their upcoming project Jaanwar, Darshan took immediate action.
He instructed their designer, Rahul Nanda, to book the most expensive advertising site at Juhu Circle and put up a massive hoarding featuring only Akshay Kumar from their film Jaanwar. This gesture of confidence was meant to rebuild the actor's shattered self-belief.
The Jaanwar Comeback
This strategic move and the film itself proved to be the turning point in Akshay Kumar's career. While Jaanwar initially received a lukewarm response in Mumbai, it took a phenomenal start in Uttar Pradesh and became an all-time hit in Bihar.
Jaanwar ultimately gave Akshay Kumar a huge comeback, solidifying his position in the industry and silencing his critics. The film marked the beginning of his journey back to superstardom, proving the producers who had written him off completely wrong.
From being labeled 'kachra' and facing project cancellations, Akshay Kumar has transformed into one of Bollywood's most bankable and busiest stars. He currently has multiple high-profile projects in the pipeline, including Welcome to the Jungle, Hera Pheri 3, Bhoot Bangla, and Haiwaan.
