He has never been one to crave attention as his two-decade long career did most of the talking, but Akshaye Khanna believes acting is a profession where it eventually gets difficult to deal with the feeling of being loved less.
The 42-year-old star says at the end of the day every artiste wants his work to be appreciated.
"Deep down that's all you really want, he said. "You may not like or be comfortable with certain forms of appreciation or love, but you do want it.
"...And once that starts slipping away appreciation, work, love, attention that's a terrible feeling. As much as I say I am uncomfortable with too much attention, but in essence that's what I, every artiste works for."
Akshaye has entertained the audience with films like Border, Taal, Dil Chahta Hau, Humraaz and Hulchul before going on a four-year sabbatical from acting.
He marked his return to big screen as an antagonist in the action-comedy Dishoom and now has two projects lined up for this year release.
When asked if he ever feels the fear of being forgotten, Akshaye says, "countless days".
"'Why is the feeling of insecurity so prevalent in this field?' Because the actor is such a dependent person on other people. If I am a painter, poet, composer, I am not really dependent on others.
"While the profession of acting or being an actor is leaving your entire career open to people and the material you get from the outside world. It's got nothing to do with you."
Akshaye says an actor is constantly in search of talented people, be it a writer or a director or a co-star, as these people eventually help enhance his performance on screen.
"The insecurity here (for an actor) is that I can only perform, excel and work if work is given to me. That is the essence of the insecurity because you are so dependent on others. Therefore, for an actor the entire quest, from morning to night, years and decades, is to surround himself from the best talents he can find.
"This process goes on everyday, relentlessly, till the day your career ends."
The actor says though the search for talented people is often "emotionally exhausting", the quest never ends as film making is a team work and the aim is to get the right people on board.
Akshaye will next be seen in Ravi Udyawar's Mom and Abhay Chopra's Ittefaq.
The actors considers himself lucky to be working with new directors who he believes will have a great future.
"I've never done back to back movies with new directors.
But I've been so fortunate because both Ravi and Abhay have proven to be exceptionally good.
"I can honestly say there are going to be good additions in the directorial space in the Hindi film industry.
But I was so glad to work with both of them. I was really lucky."
Mom, which stars Sridevi and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, is scheduled to release on July 7.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.