AN OPEN LETTER TO AKSHAY KUMAR—THE GUY WHO'S OUR #MANCRUSHEVERYDAY

Dear Akshay,

On your 50th birthday let's begin with stating the obvious. Time may not stop for anybody but it found an exception in you because even if we'd like to believe that you've turned 50 this year, your appearance says otherwise. You are sure aware of the fact that you've put all the 25 year olds to shame with those oh-so-perfect looks and that million dollar smile. This letter though, is not about how you get women weak in their knees with your looks but how you've won hearts because of your chivalrous nature and unadulterated heart, because you're probably the only one in the industry who possess both the traits.

At 23, I've seen you in what people refer to as the best phase of your life. I remember cracking up watching Garam Masala, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Heyy Babyy etc and somehow was always convinced that you deserved to walk away with the leading lady. But, of course while I was growing up, certain revelations were made about your past (by the media and certain self-proclaimed Bollywood experts around me). Those revelations eventually made me respect you even more for who you are. All our lives we've been told to learn from our past mistakes and no matter how cliche it may sound, it's the most difficult thing to do. People boast about your alleged affairs and how at one point in time you had way too many women drooling over you and vice versa, but, the same people forget to acknowledge the amount of efforts it takes to get back on the right track, once you've realised you were getting onto the wrong one. Repentance is the real struggle and you don't have to go about validating your actions because people won't stop talking anyway. Thank you for letting me believe that you don't have to constantly punish yourself for the blunders you make when you have a chance to correct them.

Enough has been said about the series of flops you've had in your career (as if all the actors have always had a gala time in the industry) but the society has hardly acknowledged the fact that even after you were delivering flops after flops, the film offers wouldn't stop pouring in because the makers couldn't find anyone as committed to his work as you in the entire friggin industry. And it was because you gave them something more valuable than super hit films, you gave them trust. The fraternity had one man, they knew, who'd always remain faithful to his profession and everything else that would follow. We are living in a world where people break trust faster than they break glasses, so we mustn't lose out on human beings who have more to offer than just materialistic needs. Thank you for teaching me that, the most important things in life don't have a price tag.

After being in the industry for almost 26 years, how in the world do you keep yourself motivated to stay fit? How do you manage to take a swim in the morning, have a physiotherapy session, sweat it out in the gym and then go shoot for a film/advertisement/TV show? Of course it has got a little to do with the profession you're in. After all, in India people pay to watch well-sculpted bodies on the big screen (that's the truth, no matter how sad it may sound). But, I am sure it's got so much more to do with the fact that you want your children to adopt a healthy lifestyle and who could be a better example than their father. From your journey, it is also clear that it is about believing in maintaining a healthy body and not giving in to lethargy and laziness. Thank you for teaching me that it's important to be self-motivated because for as long as you're looking for it elsewhere, you won't get very far in life.

While a lot of people talk about bringing about a change, you're amongst those who believe in making a difference rather than merely talking about it. Thank you for acknowledging the sacrifice of the Armed Forces because not many people understand how it feels to stay away from family and stand at the borders protecting your nation, knowing that this could also be the very end.  Thank you for letting men know that they must do away with their egos because it would never get them a worthy woman. Thank you for making this world a better place!

Regards,
An ardent fan and admirer