The period between 2006 and 2008 was especially difficult for Akshay Kumar because a series of not-so-great box office performances hogged the headlines.
Most of the films such as “Tees Maar Khan”, “Chandni Chowk to China” etc. that came out in those years performed either averagely or were total flops, which began to raise serious questions about his career. That is when he came with “Rowdy Rathore” in 2012, which is a superhit and gave his career a life again.
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Although this resurgence was followed by several more below-average projects in Kumar’s filmography, “Airlift” in 2016 marked a turning point for Kumar and cemented his position as a leading actor in patriotic roles, which did well both with the audience and critics.
“Airlift”, based on true events surrounding the evacuation of Indians from Kuwait during the Gulf War, showed that Kumar could handle serious subjects effectively.
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Interestingly, “Airlift” was initially offered to the late Irrfan Khan who realized the potential for a great film. In a selfless act, Khan advised that the producers cast Akshay Kumar as instead – he believed Kumar would make the film attract a higher budget and more audience. He said, “Boss, mere sath mat kar ye picture (Don’t do this film with me).
It is a fantastic film but don’t do it with me because you will not get the budget. Go to Akshay”. This decision not only benefited Kumar’s career but also highlighted Khan’s humility and dedication to the craft over personal ambition.
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In the end, “Airlift” will remain a flagship film for each of the heroes- Kumar found a new niche of patriotic hero for Bollywood, while the choice here reflects Khan’s dedication to talent and good filmmaking.
