Happily Unmarried

He’s often accused of being too reserved to be in the entertainment business, and Akshaye Khanna testifies that all the accusations levelled against him are with good reason. “I’m an unhealthily shy person. I’m hardly media savvy — even when I read about myself in the newspapers, I feel extremely uncomfortable,” he confesses.

And considering the recent controversy regarding a supposed tiff with co-star Arshad Warsi, he must’ve seen a lot of himself in the news. “There is absolutely no truth in it. Arshad was unwell and couldn’t attend one of the press conferences, that’s how it all started. But we have great chemistry,” he clarifies.

Embarrassed
There was also news doing the rounds that he had skipped receiving his award at IIFA because of a grudge against Warsi. Akshaye explains that the truth is far less controversial and far more embarrassing. “I’ll tell you, but it’s embarrassing. I was there in the audience. Unfortunately, my tummy was upset because of something I had in the afternoon. But since I had promised Sonam I would attend her performance, I sat there with much difficulty.

Afterwards, I couldn’t bear it and I rushed to my room’s loo, which took me almost 20 minutes considering how big the hotel was. By the time I got back, my award was over. I realised that if I go now, I’ll just look stupid. So, I just went back to my room,” he says.

Knot right now
Akshaye confesses that marriage is nowhere on the cards. “My friend forced me to see a palmist who told me that by year end, I would definitely be married. Since then, I’ve been getting nightmares. Pray for me that it doesn’t come true. Who wants to get married?” he quips.

The actor, who features in the upcoming film Short Kut, says that although the film is all about the quick way to success, taking a shortcut in his profession “can be suicidal”. “The film business is extremely cruel. Sometimes talented people aren’t given their due while others rise to the top. But, if you want to enter the industry you have to prepare yourself mentally and physically,” he says. As for himself, he’s quick to add, “life has been more than fair to me”.