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Chunky Panday says Akshay Kumar was his acting student in 1980s: ‘What he did in the first five years was because of me, those films never worked’

Chunky Panday quipped that Akshay Kumar's initial film career didn't take off as perhaps he was still following the 'Chunky Panday' school of acting.

By: Entertainment Desk
Mumbai | Updated: June 25, 2023 03:03 PM IST

2 min read

Actor Chunky Panday has revealed that he was acting instructor of Akshay Kumar when he started his film career. (Photo: Chunky Panday, Akshay Kumar/Instagram)

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The origin story of actor Akshay Kumar finds roots in–surprisingly–Chunky Panday. Chunky has revealed how he taught the superstar acting and dancing much before Akshay entered the film industry. Chunky said even back then, he just knew that Akshay would become a “big star”.

In the latest episode of Khaane Mein Koun Hai, Chunkly was asked if he indeed taught Akshay Kumar acting. To which, the actor laughed and said, “Arey baap rey! Of course.” Chunky said in 1986-87, he was in Madhumati dance academy, where dancing, fighting and acting was taught and when he was passing out of the institute, Akshay Kumar was entering.

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“He was younger than me. It was a tradition that the seniors would teach the juniors, not the teachers! So, I taught him dialoguebaazi, good dance steps. I knew 100 percent that this boy would become a star. You just know it when you look at someone. He had something about him. He had that X-Factor. Of course, no one thought he would become this big a star.”

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Chunky, however, also quipped that Akshay’s initial film career didn’t take off as perhaps he was still following the ‘Chunky Panday’ school of acting. “But till today Akshay Kumar tells people that the acting he did in the first five years was because of me and those films never worked! Then he decided that he will forget ‘Chunky Panday acting’ and start a new acting, he then became Akshay Kumar!”

Aksay started his career in 1991 with Saugandh and found his breakthrough success with the action thriller Khiladi. Akshay and Chunky eventually went on to work in the comedy franchise Housefull.