Interview: I thought of becoming an actor after watching Hrithik Roshan’s film – Akshay Oberoi

‘There are many reasons why films don’t do well at the box office’

In the era of OTT, it is being seen that the films which do not get a good response in cinema, sometimes become very popular among the OTT or TV audience. Is there any difference between the cinema and TV audience? Regarding this, Akshay Oberoi says, ‘The audience is not different at all. The audience is the same. Sometimes it happens that a film does not reach them. Maybe the marketing misfires, maybe the audience is not able to connect with it after watching the trailer, or something else was going on in the country at that time, due to which the film does not get that kind of response in the cinema. There can be many reasons for the film not doing well at the box office. But the audience is the same.

‘I learned to be dedicated to my work from Randeep Hooda’

Talking about his/her co-stars from his/her previous films, Akshay says, ‘I have worked with a lot of people and have had the opportunity to learn from many. I have learnt something from everyone: Randeep Hooda, Saif Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi. I have learnt from Pankaj Tripathi that one should not take oneself too seriously. I have learnt from Saif Ali Khan that he/she does something new in every take. I have learnt dedication towards work from Randeep Hooda. How a person gets into a character and molds into it and does things that prepare him/her for the role.’

‘The films did not work due to marketing and other flaws’

Akshay has appeared in films of many big stars so far, but his/her films have not received the desired response so far. he/she says, ‘I have many of my own films, Lal Rang, Gurgaon, Pizza, Kalakandi, which I liked very much, but perhaps there was some lack in their marketing, there were some shortcomings in distribution. But those films reached the people through OTT or cable and then the audience watched them. ‘Fighter’ has been appreciated by people in cinema and OTT. Now if the film comes on Star Gold, it will reach more people. Apart from this, actors like me who have worked hard for years and done so many series, films and those projects have been watched less, people have seen and appreciated them through OTT and TV.’

‘I have an eye connection with Hrithik’

Akshay Oberoi worked with Hrithik and Deepika in the film Fighter. he/she says, ‘Hrithik and Deepika are very big stars. I used to watch Hrithik in films in my childhood. By then I had decided that I want to become an actor. I used to do theatre. I used to act in plays at the age of 10-11. When Kaho Naa Pyar Hai was released, one day I got a call from my father that I am coming to pick you up and in the evening, you, your mother and I will watch the film of India’s next superstar. At that time, Brad Pitt and Daniel Day-Lewis were big stars in New Jersey, America. Then I wondered how I would be able to become something among them.’ he/she further says, ‘When I saw Hrithik sir’s first film, I was in America at that time. Then I thought that I can go to India and become an actor. I thought so because maybe our eyes were similar. I did such a big film with him/her after 15 years. This film has given me a big identity. I did a small role with Deepika in Piku. It has been a pleasure working with him/her as well. We have spent a lot of time in Kashmir.