If the legion of self-styled trade pundits in the film industry thought they knew all about spotting stars and predicting their future, it's time they pondered again. Like Amitabh Bachchan before him, they had callously dismissed black-belt Akshay Kumar as "no star material". He might be good for a few fights, they said condescendingly. But,two decades down the line, ‘Akki’ as Akshay is known among friends, is still around cocking a snook at the know-alls even as they are falling over one another projecting as the 'hottest star' after the reigning king Shah Rukh Khan. In the box-office sweepstakes, he's currently rated next only to the numero uno star even in the overseas circuit. with four back-to-back hits, Heyy Babby and Welcome in 2007.  Akshay’s is a fairly tale rise, achieved with a gumption to dream big and a Napoleonic conviction that ‘nothing is impossible’. Akki’s rise to fame, from a sports enthusiast to a chef to a superstar in films, continues to baffle those who had written him off as “all brawn and no brains” after seeing his initial films. At best he was seen as “a poor man’s James Bond”. But Akshay didn’t let that dampen his will to win. He played out his Khiladi series with elan as long as they kept adding to his list of hits like Khiladi (1992), Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994), Mr. & Mrs. Khiladi (1997) and Khiladi 420 (2000) even as he kept looking for other genres, like comedy. He worked on his flair for comedy and came up with a hilarious series with Priyadarshan, like Hera Pheri (2000), Awara Paagal Deewana (2002) and Phir Hera Pheri (2006). With sustained success, he grew in stature as an actor to be able to tackle a better range of roles. He did films like Dhadkan (2000), Aakhen (2002), Andaaz (2003), Mujhse Shaadi karogi (2004), Aitraz (2004), Namastey London (2007), Heyy Babby (2007), Bhool Bhulaiya (2007) and Welcome (2007). 

Interestingly, Akki's strength has been his credibility and his amiability. Like the Dharmendra and the Jeetendra of yore, Akki endeared himself to producers/directors with his readiness to be helpful, which ensured a steady stream of good projects. And with time, he also built up a loyal band of fans all over with a sensible choice of films, as can be seen from his growing clout in the overseas market. Today, he’s reckoned as the only challenge to numero uno Shah Rukh Khan's sustained draw, here and abroad.