In a candid revelation, producer-director Suneel Darshan has shed light on a period of struggle in Akshay Kumar's career when the actor faced a string of flops, leading to major projects being stalled. Darshan recounted a time when Kumar was considered a liability by many in the film industry, with distributors reluctant to invest in his films.

According to Darshan, the situation was so dire that some of Kumar's prominent films were halted midway. He revealed that "Hera Pheri," a film that would later become a cult classic, was 90 percent complete when it was blocked. Similarly, "Dhadkan," another significant project, had four reels made before it was also put on hold.

Darshan, known for movies like "Mere Jeevan Saathi," "Barsaath," and "Jaanwar," has had a close working relationship with Akshay Kumar. In an interview with Friday Talkies, Darshan explained that despite the actor's recent failures, he chose to cast Kumar because he saw something special in him. He was impressed by Kumar's punctuality and dedication. "There was a problem. He had had many flops during that time and many of his prominent films had been halted midway," Darshan stated.

Despite the challenges, Darshan decided to sign Kumar for his 1999 film "Jaanwar". He also cast Karisma Kapoor but told her he wouldn't be able to pay her as much as other filmmakers were offering at the time. Karisma and her mother, Babita, agreed to work with Darshan, demonstrating their faith in him. Darshan strongly believed that Kumar, despite being considered a liability by others, would be his asset.

Akshay Kumar's career faced a tough phase in the late 1990s, with back-to-back flops impacting several ongoing projects. Suneel Darshan's insights reveal the challenges Kumar faced and the prevailing sentiment in the industry at the time.

"Hera Pheri," directed by Priyadarshan, was a remake of the Malayalam film "Ramji Rao Speaking". The film proved to be a turning point in Kumar's career. Hindustan Times noted the film's "intense portrayal of the surreality of the human condition". Kumar also starred in Dharmesh Darshan's romantic drama "Dhadkan" that same year. While the film performed moderately at the box office, Kumar received praise for his acting.

Akshay Kumar's early success in the 1990s as an action star led to several films in the "Khiladi" series, as well as other action films like "Mohra" (1994) and "Jaanwar" (1999). Although he received positive feedback for his romantic role in "Yeh Dillagi" (1994), it was in the next decade that Kumar expanded his range of roles. He gained recognition for romantic films like "Dhadkan" (2000), "Andaaz" (2003), and "Namastey London" (2007), as well as for his comedic performances in films like "Hera Pheri" (2000), "Mujhse Shaadi Karogi" (2004), "Phir Hera Pheri" (2006), "Bhool Bhulaiyaa" (2007), and "Singh Is Kinng" (2008).