At the 70th Filmfare Awards, senior Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar offered crucial guidance to aspiring actors entering the industry, warning against signing three-film deals with any producer. Speaking in response to host Shah Rukh Khan’s question, Akshay highlighted the importance of maintaining flexibility and independence in the early stages of a career.
Shah Rukh Khan asked Akshay to share advice for young actors who look up to him, and Akshay responded, “For newcomers, my advice is simple: never sign a three-film deal with any producer.” He suggested that newcomers watch Aryan Khan’s directorial The Ba**ds of Bollywood, which portrays the challenges faced by new actors and demonstrates what they should and shouldn’t do while navigating the film industry.
In a playful exchange with co-host and filmmaker Karan Johar, Akshay added, “Don’t lock newcomers into multi-film deals. Give them freedom, let them go—if they are meant to be ours, they will return.” The comment elicited laughter from both Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar, emphasizing Akshay’s candid yet humorous approach to mentoring the next generation of actors.
Akshay also discussed his own approach to choosing films, stating, “Work attracts work. No project is too small or too big. Sometimes, even if my role is limited, I take on a film because I want it to be remembered as a good movie in history.” He concluded by stressing the importance of discipline, noting that consistent effort and dedication are essential for sustaining a long-lasting career in Bollywood.