Akshay Kumar needs no introduction! Twenty years into Bollywood and never once has he stopped being a source of inspiration to millions of his fans. A real story of rags to riches, a benchmark of physical fitness and the first Bollywood actor to earn 2,000 crore thus far in his career, Akshay Kumar is the epitome of what a man can achieve without giving up on his morals and ethics.  Here are 10 reasons why he will continue to inspire the Indian youth! 1. First things first, the man rose from scratch. From the cramped streets of Chandni Chowk to being a chef in Bangkok, and ultimately one of the highest paid actors in Bollywood, Akshay made it to the top without any godfather, all thanks to his dedication and hard work.

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2. He failed time and again but never gave up on his way to the top. Akshay Kumar hardly tasted any success in his take-off years in Bollywood. As many as 17-18 of his movies bombed at the box office and the critiques wrote him off as a failed actor. For the longest time, he wasn’t recognized at the Filmfare Awards. But his resilience took everything face-front and today, and his tremendous success as an actor proves that ‘failure breeds success’.

3. Family before everything! And nobody but Akshay stands as an ideal example of a real family man. More than a decade into matrimony with Twinkle Khanna and blessed with two children, Akshay has always been vocal about his love for his family.

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4. His never-say-never attitude earned him the tag of being a versatile actor. Akshay’s movies stand tall as proof of the fact that he has never shied away from taking up roles that were out of his comfort zone. Started from action, then tried romantic roles, and finally, made us laugh with his comic timing. Akshay has proven his mettle in all genres of cinema.

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5. He’s not a businessman but a business itself. Kumar is an ace at selling himself! His net worth ($158 million) might be known but what is hardly known is his slick business skill. ‘People With Money’ magazine reported on May 4th that Kumar is the highest-paid actor in Bollywood, amassing a whooping $58 million between April 2014 and April 2015.  Apart from his multi-million dollar endorsements, Kumar also owns several restaurants (the ‘Fat Kumar Burger’ chain) in New Delhi, a football team (the ‘Amritsar Angels’), a brand of Vodka (‘Pure Wonder Kumar’), a perfume brand (‘With Love from Akshay’) and a clothing line called ‘Akshay Kumar Seduction’.

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6. Humility doesn’t come easy with all that fame and money but Akshay, throughout his time in Bollywood, has kept himself rooted.  No doubt we have never heard about him flipping out on the sets or around his fans.

7. His dedication to fitness hardly needs to be spoken about. While half of his acting peers are busy getting botox and other cosmetic facelifts, Akshay still clocks in his daily run and cardio exercises. Apart from kickboxing, basketball and swimming, Akshay has developed love for the very physically-demanding sport Parkour. Doing Parkour at the age of 47 speaks a lot about his amazing fitness level. Akshay is a sixth-degree black belt and still practises martial arts. One look at the superstar is enough to get all gym motivation back in line!

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8. Unlike his Bollywood peers, Akshay has never been fond of controversies.  Twenty years into the industry, he can still boast of a clean record, and that in itself is a herculean task. Just recall when he appeared on ‘Koffee With Karan’ and shut down Karan Johar when he tried asking him controversial questions! That’s an example of a man who has risen above stupid stuff and prefers to let his work do the talking.

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9. He’s a great example of a responsible citizen. Not only is he an undisputed actor, he is also one of the most sincere taxpayers of Bollywood. Since 2013, Akshay has paid over 20 crores in taxes. Last year, Akshay was applauded all over India when he got down from his car in the middle of a traffic jam upon spotting a person throwing litter from his car.

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10. He has kept up with changing times. Not only has Akshay’s approach towards his movies evolved, he is also well aware of the internet age we live in. Be it Facebook or Twitter, Akshay has been pro-active on both the social platforms and routinely interacts with his fans.

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