Why Did Akshay Kumar Change His Real Name Rajiv Bhatia?
Akshay Kumar, one of the most successful Bollywood stars, has opened up about why he changed his real name from Rajiv Bhatia to Akshay Kumar. Contrary to popular beliefs, it was not due to any astrological advice or superstition, but rather an unusual reason.
The Fascinating Story Behind Akshay Kumar’s Name Change
In an interview with Galatta Plus, Akshay Kumar revealed that he got his name from the 1987 film "Aaj", in which he made his Bollywood debut alongside Kumar Gaurav. Akshay Kumar said, "Do you know what was Kumar Gaurav’s name in the film? Akshay. That’s how I got my name. Not many people know this. So my real name is Rajiv and during the shoot, I casually asked him what is the name of the hero in the film? He said – Akshay. I told him that I want to keep my name as Akshay!"
Father’s Disapproval
Interestingly, Akshay Kumar’s father also did not agree with his decision to change his name. When asked about his father’s reaction, Akshay Kumar said, "Rajiv is a good name and I think Rajiv Gandhi was also the Prime Minister or something at that time. So that name was good but I changed it just like that. It was not as if some Pandit advised me to change my name! My father also asked me what is your problem? But I told him the same thing, that this was the name of the hero in my first film, so I will also keep the same name!"
Recent Film Flops
Akshay Kumar’s latest film "Sarfira" was released in theaters on Friday, but it has received negative reviews and is reportedly a box office flop. This comes after the success of his previous film, "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan", which also underperformed.
