Akshay Kumar movies / Image- IMDb

At 57, he is best known for his fitness but that’s not the best thing about him. One of the best aspects of Akshay Kumar is his will to adapt with the changing times. He came into the industry as an action hero, he took to comedy before the action industry burnt out and then somewhere down the line he found his calling-he turned into that people’s hero, who the audience knows will deliver something not just from the heart, but something that will touch every Indian, right to the core. We lined up some of the films which make him a celebrated National Hero.

Waqt-The Race Against Time (2005)

 

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If there is a story about a father and son that should be lauded and celebrated-it is this! Waqt-The Race Against Time could be called contrived and cheesy, yet a very moving film. The film tells us the story of Aditya who is essentially a spoiled brat, taking things and people for granted all the time. But like they say, time doesn’t wait for anyone. When his father Ishwar realizes that he has less time than he thought, he needs Aditya to grow up soon. Some drastic measures, loads of drama and some rather sweet songs-leads you to the climax wherein you cannot hold your tears back. 

Namastey London (2007)
 

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In 2007, there was a lot of talk about Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif coming together for Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s Namastey London. The songs were a hit, the pair was a hit- everything was looking good and predictions said it would make decent business. But once the film hit the theaters, it swept the audiences away. The film speaks to the middle class youth who are migrating to foreign countries and the difficulties they face. In a rather fun, light hearted manner, Akshay and Vipul spoke to the hearts of the Indian diaspora that’s settled away. From their country while taking its soil, its tradition and its love within their souls.

Special 26 (2013)
 

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Heist dramas are always Interesting, but no one knew what  to expect out of the film. Given Neeraj Pandey’s A Wednesday was highly appreciated, the film did manage to catch the curiosity of the audience, especially since Pandey was now associating himself with an A- lister like Akshay Kumar. With actors like Manoj Bajpayee in the film, Kumar not only held his own, he shone in his part like no one expected he would. That’s Akshay for you, a mastermind through and through.

Baby (2015)

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This film has been rated as one of the best spy movies made in Bollywood. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, the second time Akshay teamed up with after Special 26. While the film marked Taapsee Pannu’s Bollywood debut, it was an out and out-Akshay Kumar film. Action being his forte, the film’s action scenes were touted as some of the best that he had done in his career. Since the name did not give any hints about the film’s premise, the film and Akshay both surprised the audience.

Rustom (2016)
 

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When Akshay Kumar reprised the role of Rustom which was allegedly based on KM Nanavati Vs State of Maharashtra case, people already knew that it will become the talk of the town. The panache with which he played the naval officer, aptly stole hearts.
Rustom became a box office success grossing over US$25 million worldwide at the box office, and was the fourth highest grossing Hindi film of 2016 and fifth highest grossing Indian film of 2016. At the 64th National Film Awards, Kumar received the National Film Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the titular character.

Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017)
 

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The film with this unusual title caught everyone’s attention because in 2017, no one was really discussing sanitation issues. Not having a toilet at home was not an urban problem and it was too much of a toboo in the small towns to be discussed on any social forums. Yet, when Bhumi Pednekar’s Jaya and Kumar’s Keshav come together in marriage-their love and marriage almost got flushed away due to the lack of a toilet in the house. It’s Keshav’s fight for his love, and simply what’s the right thing to do that makes the film sweet and loveable. 

Pad Man (2018)
 

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Akshay Kumar established himself as the biography man with this film. R Balki’s Pad Mon is an adaptation of the true story of Arunachalam Muruganantham who is credited for making a low cost sanitary pad. In the movie, Akshay portrayed the role of Arunachalam and Radhika Apte- his wife. When he sees his wife facing problems and the various unhygienic methods she adopts to tackle her periods, the caring husband in in him comes forward and does all possible things to help his wife considering his quest was to try to make a difference, not just for his wife but the society at large he suffers ostracism from his own family and relatives too. 

Kesari (2019)

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Holi was colored Kesari with this Akshay Kumar film. The film about the Battle of Saragarhi and Havildar Ishar Singh. The man who along with 20 odd soldiers was put in the borders of British India, to guard and uphold the sanctity of the places against the Afghani tribes. The ferocious battle made to British History but was unheard of in India, till Anurag Singh and Akshay Kumar decided to bring it in the form. The brilliance of Kumar’s acting and the patriotic nerve he touched, makes  it one of his best works.

Mission Mangal (2019)
 

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What makes Mission Mangal one of Akshay Kumar’s best, is that he didn’t say sabotage the fact that the Mission belonged to the ladies of the film. With actresses like Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Sonakshi Sinha and more, creating the ensemble their story became bigger than his. Thus, their mission bigger than his, the film tries to break many stereotypes while trying to prove just why India is at the top of the ‘Star Wars’.

OMG 2 (2023)
 

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Akshay Kumar had played God before in OMG (2012), but this time he made sure that he broke religious prejudices that stop children from having a conversation with their elders, which in turn leads them in circles. The film spoke about a teen who gets rusticated from school because he is filmed in a rather compromising situation encouraging parents and children to communicate rather than shame someone in matters of sex education