He is a true rags-to-riches story. Never in his wildest dreams did Akshay Kumar believe that he would be a popular film star.

The journey began with his love for martial arts and sports. To master Taekwondo, he left for Bangkok in his early teens. In Bangkok, he worked as a waiter in a restaurant. His hard work and persistence paid off and he got a black belt.

Back in India, he began taking martial art classes and was encouraged by one of his students to take up modelling. One thing led to other and Akshay signed his first film, Deedar with veteran filmmaker Pramod Chakravarthy opposite Karisma Kapoor.

But his first film to hit the silver screen was the now virtually forgotten Saugandh. Only after the release of Abbas Mastan’s rehashed version of Khel Khel Mein, ie Khiladi, did Akshay’s career pick up. The film clicked and so did 'Khiladi'. The word became synonymous with Akshay.

To date, he has seven films with the name Khiladi: Khiladi, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Sabse Bada Khiladi, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, Mr and Mrs Khiladi, International Khiladi and Khiladi 420.

Besides hits like Mohra, Yeh Dillagi at the BO, Akki, as he is affectionately called, became the golden boy of glossies.

A true blue Casanova, his off-screen affairs with his costars created more copy than his work. The hunk managed to lure every eligible girl in town -- Pooja Batra, Raveena Tandon and Shilpa Shetty, to name a few.

As far his films was concerned only his daredevilry in his stunts and energetic dancing were acknowledged. Having been dismissed by critics as ‘wooden’, ‘a piece of furniture’, ‘Duh’ and ‘a doorknob’.

Akshay, for his part, made every one take a second look at him when he came up with sincere performances in Sangharsh, Jaanwar, Dhadkan, Hera Pheri and the recent, Ek Rishtaa - The Bond of Love.

His sudden, and unexpected, marriage to actress Twinkle Khanna, he admits, has tamed him. He now intends playing substantial roles in his films, besides a devoted husband in real life.

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