Akshay Kumar’s upcoming film, Gold, is a historical sports drama based on India’s first Olympic gold medal win. The story of the golden era of Indian hockey is told through the eyes of Tapan Das, portrayed by Akshay, who dreams of playing for an independent nation.
At a promotional event for the film, the actor is in a particularly good mood. So much so that he even dances on top of a table with his co-star Mouni Roy. His jovial mood continues as he answers a volley of questions posed by media persons.
The importance of gold
Talking about the importance of gold, on which his film is titled, Akshay says, “A gold medal has always commanded respect. Two and a half years ago, my son won a gold medal in karate and got a black belt; that was a big thing for us. A gold medal is a mark of respect for one’s country, and one’s family. But if you don’t get it, you shouldn’t be disappointed. Work harder next time and try to achieve it.”
Box-office clashes
Gold is slated for release on Independence Day, as is John Abraham’s Satyameva Jayate. Given that both seem to be patriotic films, a box office clash is unavoidable, but Akshay is unfazed by this. “Anyone can release their film on any date – Eid, Christmas, Diwali. We industry waalas are all friends (smiles). So next time I too shall replace my film with a friend of mine,” he says.
The actor adds that he won’t try to persuade people to watch his film over John’s. “I am not going to tell people to spend money and watch my film; it’s their choice. They can watch and enjoy both films,” he says.
Akshay’s last release was due to clash with Padmaavat, but he graciously gave up his release date. “Padmaavat went through major problems before its release, and at Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s request, I decided to postpone my film. We are all friends, and we decided to give them that week,” he says.
On putting hockey in the limelight
The actor is happy that hockey is being given more importance in mainstream media. “Soorma is about hockey, and Chak De! India was also about hockey. It’s a good thing that hockey is being shown in films. I feel all games should be given importance. People should know what happened in 1948. Hockey is an important game and Gold is an important film. Youngsters should know about our history,” he says, adding, “Things are changing, we are coming out with good films now.”
Akshay’s own tryst with hockey
This film is especially close to his heart because Akshay himself played hockey as a kid. “I played hockey in school and I enjoyed the game. I played in the goalkeeper’s position. Sometimes I would successfully defend a goal attempt, and sometimes I would be unable to do so,” he says.
Speaking Bengali
In Gold, Akshay will be seen speaking some Bengali. Talking about the experience, he says, “I have lived in Kolkata for two years, and I know Bengali. It’s not new to me. I just had to brush up on my knowledge of the language a little, and we had a coach to train us on the sets.”
The film, which has been directed by Reema Kagti, also stars Mouni Roy, Kunal Kapoor, Vineet Singh, and Sunny Kaushal.
