Khiladi of Bollywood- Akshay Kumar– has been keen on exploring the non-fiction genre lately.
From ‘Bell Bottom’ to ‘Gold’- we’re here with 7 Akshay Kumar films that were influenced by heart-touching real-life incidents.
1. Bell Bottom
Director: Ranjit M Tewari
Release Date: August 19, 2021
Story: Inspired by real-life hijacking events in India by Khalistani separatists, ‘Bell Bottom’ shows how an undercover RAW agent– codenamed Bell Bottom (played by Akshay Kumar)- saves 210 passengers of a hijacked Indian plane. Set in the ’80s, it was India’s first-ever covert operation.
2. Mission Mangal
Director: Jagan Shakti
Release Date: August 15, 2019
Story: Loosely based on the lives of scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), who contributed to India’s first interplanetary expedition Mars Orbiter Mission. The movie starred Akshay Kumar as Rakesh Dhawan- the director of Mission Mars.
3. Kesari
Director: Anurag Singh
Release Date: March 21, 2019
Story: Based on the battle of Saragarhi (1897), the movie tells the story of the exceptional bravery of 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army who took on the might of an estimated 10000-strong army of Pashtun fighters to defend the fort of Saragarhi in modern-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan. Akshay Kumar was seen essaying the role of Havildar Ishar Singh.
4. Gold
Director: Reema Kagti
Release Date: August 15, 2018
Story: The historical sports drama is based on the journey of India’s first national hockey team to the 1948 Summer Olympics. Akshay Kumar plays the role of Tapan Das, the man who won India its first gold medal in the 1948 Summer Olympics.
5. Padman
Director: R. Balki
Release Date: February 9, 2018
Story: Based on the life of a social activist named Arunachalam Muruganantham, who hails from a remote village in Tamil Nadu, the movie essays how he creates a machine that can make affordable sanitary pads and raises awareness.
6. Rustom
Director: Tinu Suresh Desai
Release Date: August 12, 2016
Story: Loosely based on the jury trial case of the Indian Naval officer– K. M. Nanavati (played by Akshay Kumar)- who reportedly murders his friend for having an affair with his wife.
7. Airlift
Director: Raja Krishna Menon
Release Date: January 22, 2016
Story: Inspired by the life of Kuwait-based Indian businessman Mathunny Mathews, popularly known as ‘Toyota Sunny’, Akshay was seen essaying the role of Ranjit Katiyal. The man was responsible for the safe evacuation of stranded Indians during the Iraqi invasion in 1990.