Akshay Kumar Reveals His Mantra For Success: “Discipline, Consistency And The Hunger Of A Newcomer”

At a time when Welcome To The Jungle is enjoying a successful run at the box office, Akshay Kumar isn’t looking at the numbers as proof that he has figured out the secret to longevity. More than three decades into his career, the actor in an interview to a leading daily said that every Friday still brings the same nerves, uncertainty and excitement that it did when he was starting out. The Akshay Kumar Way Of Success Asked about the biggest misconception people have about him after spending over 30 years in the industry, Kumar laughs off the notion that success has become routine. He said, “I have some secret machine at home that produces four films a year! But it’s all about time management and discipline. Another misconception is that because I’ve been around for more than three decades, everything comes easy to me now. It doesn’t. Every Friday still feels like an exam result. Every film still gives me butterflies. The day I stop being nervous or excited about a new project, I think that’s the day I should retire. So no secret formula… just discipline, consistency and still having the hunger of a newcomer.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) That hunger, he believes, is also what has helped him stay relevant through changing audience tastes and shifting trends in Hindi cinema. Elaborating, he added, “Being relevant and understanding what audiences want is one of the hardest things to predict. Sometimes you need to give audiences something they didn’t even know they wanted. Following trends doesn’t guarantee success either. The trick is not to be scared. If you believe in something, go for it wholeheartedly. There is no formula, just a lot of guts and prayers.” With Welcome To The Jungle drawing audiences to theatres, Kumar says the industry’s biggest victory lies in seeing people laugh together in cinema halls again. Akshay Thanks Anees Bazmee For Welcome Asked about the film’s strong opening weekend and the response it has received, the actor keeps his answer characteristically brief, affirming the power of divine blessings! “Just two words: Jai Mahakal!” The success of the film also prompted Kumar to acknowledge filmmaker Anees Bazmee, who directed the original Welcome and helped shape one of Bollywood’s most-loved comedy franchises. While Welcome To The Jungle has been directed by Ahmed Khan, the actor says the franchise owes its foundation to Bazmee. “Anees ji is the most important person I want to thank for not only today but also the past 20 years. This (filmmaker) Anees Bazmee ji is the creator of Welcome, without his genius filmmaking none of the 30+ cast members of Welcome to Jungle, would be standing here enjoying this weekend, especially me.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) He continued, “The first rule of martial arts is to never forget where