When Akshay Kumar began his career in movies, he was dismissed as a wooden actor and able stuntman.
Far from being disheartened, he made the best of the opportunities he received as part of his learning curve.
After nearly three decades and over 100 movies, the A-lister is the world's fourth highest-paid actor and has proved his mettle across genres like action, comedy, romance and drama.
As if to reiterate this point, his upcoming movies like Sooryavanshi, Housefull 4, Good News, Laxmmi Bomb and Bachchan Pandey could not be more different from each other.
On his 52nd birthday, Sukanya Verma lists Akshay's various avatars. Vote for your favourite at the end!
The Khiladi
Ever since Abbas-Mustan's runaway whodunit Khiladi turned Akshay into a household name, the title stuck to the star and became a brand of sorts.
Most of the Khiladi movies -- Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Sabse Bada Khiladi, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, Khiladi 420 and International Khiladi -- are best remembered for his daredevil stunts and dishoom dishoom.
The Cop
His dashing personality and expertise in action are tailor-made for khaki uniform. And Akshay's policewala game is on point in films like Mohra, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Jai Kishen, Khakee, Khiladi 786 and the upcoming, Sooryavanshi.
The Comic
One saw the first glimpse of Akshay's uninhibited tomfoolery as the lazy half of Mr and Mrs Khiladi.
His comfort in comedy is almost always the best thing or the saving grace of the many shticks he's worked on -- be it the super silly Singh is Kinng or the abominable Chandni Chowk to China.
The Romantic
Now here's a side we don't see too often but Akshay cuts quite a lovey-dovey picture playing the romantic who'll do anything to make the woman of his dreams happy.
Bow out too if she desires -- Dhadkan, Dil To Pagal Hai, Namastey London, ring a bell?
The Dhinchak Hero
Quite a few of his money-spinners are remakes of hit South Indian movies.
The Akshay in these movies is anything but subtle. Deafeningly loud, dramatic and dhinchak, welcome to the self-styled justice of Rowdy Rathore, Boss and Gabbar is Back.
The Crusader
Akshay's sanctimonious campaigning to promote sanitary hygiene in Pad Man and toilets inside homes of small town India in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha has earned him the reputation of Bollywood's one-man samaj sudharak.
The Desh Premee
Love or loath, there's no ignoring or escaping Akshay Kumar's on screen nationalism in film after film after film after film, you get the drift.
Seeing the response from Baby to Mission Mangal, audiences seem to lap every bit of it.
The Surprise Package
He's as unpredictable as he's formulaic.
This willingness to surprise his audience had often led to quirkier, edgier turns.
His teasing homosexuality in Dishoom, creepy birdman villainy in 2.0, divine intervention in OMG-Oh My God, geek-turned-goofy scientist in Jaan-E-Mann or the gun-firing crotch in Om Shanti Om (ripped off a Swedish comedy called Kopps) are a case in point.
The funky dresser
Long before Ranveer Singh, there was Akshay Kumar and his sartorial adventures. And our man continues to work all forms of outlandish fashion to the hilt.
The Actor
Once critics favoured his effort as the intense professor of Sangharsh, there was no turning back.
His hilarious scoundrel in Hera Pheri further ensured nobody would doubt his capabilities again.
Films like Patiala House, Special 26, Airlift and Jolly LLB 2 at regular intervals add to this hard-earned credibility.
Which is your favourite Akshay Kumar avatar? VOTE!
