Akshay Kumar, the Bollywood star celebrated for his daring on-screen stunts, has recently revealed the surprising inspiration behind his action sequences: the cartoon series Tom & Jerry. In a recent interview, the actor addressed comparisons between his stunts and those of Hollywood icon Tom Cruise, particularly Cruise's gravity-defying feats in the Mission: Impossible films. Instead of citing Hollywood blockbusters, Kumar humorously credited the chaotic world of Tom & Jerry as his primary source of ideas.
Kumar pointed out that while many see Tom & Jerry as a lighthearted children's cartoon, he views it as a masterclass in action. He described the cartoon as surprisingly violent, with each episode packed with relentless chases, crashes, and over-the-top stunts. "You won't believe it, but Tom & Jerry is my biggest inspiration for action," he stated, emphasizing the cartoon's "brutal" nature, despite its child-friendly reputation. He noted the constant mayhem and destruction, highlighting one episode where Tom destroys an entire house with a baseball bat. "It's violent, seriously! Just think about what you're letting your kids watch," he quipped.
The actor then went on to give specific examples of stunts in his films that were directly inspired by Tom & Jerry episodes. He recalled a scene where Tom descends from a helicopter to grab Jerry, which he recreated in Sabse Bada Khiladi. Another instance involved Tom hanging from a plane, a stunt Kumar mirrored in Khiladi 420. He even mentioned the episode where Tom and Jerry relax in a hammock suspended beneath a helicopter, sipping wine, which served as inspiration for a similar stunt in Khatron Ke Khiladi. "I've borrowed so much from them – it's the best action film ever made, in my opinion," he laughed.
Kumar's daring airplane stunt from two decades ago had recently resurfaced, sparking comparisons to Tom Cruise's own high-flying antics in Mission: Impossible. However, Kumar's revelation about Tom & Jerry adds a playful twist to the narrative, suggesting that his inspiration comes from a far more unexpected place.
Akshay Kumar is known for performing his own stunts, a trait that has earned him the title of "Khiladi" in Bollywood. He started his career with action movies and has consistently showcased his skills in films like Blue and the Khiladi series. He was also featured in the movie Kambakkht Ishq, which was dedicated to the stuntmen who work behind the scenes.
While fans admire Cruise's dedication to performing risky stunts, some have noted that Kumar has been executing similar feats for years, often with fewer safety precautions and on significantly smaller budgets. Some fans commented that Akshay did it before it was cool, and definitely before Cruise!
Currently, Akshay Kumar is preparing for several upcoming projects. He will make a special appearance as Lord Shiva in the Telugu film Kannappa, alongside Prabhas, Mohanlal, and Vishnu Manchu. He also has Welcome to the Jungle and Priyadarshan's Bhooth Bangla, co-starring Wamiqa Gabbi and Paresh Rawal, in the pipeline.
