Before rising to prominence as one of Bollywood’s most sought-after stars, Akshay Kumar faced a series of failures that almost derailed his career. During a period when producers were withdrawing their support and projects were being shelved, it was Suneel Darshan who believed in the actor and cast him in Jaanwar—a film that became a significant turning point for Akshay.

In an interview with Minutes of Masala, Suneel reminisced about the beginnings of their collaboration. “Initially, I offered Jaanwar to Sunny Deol, but he mentioned that the script required further refinement. I thought to myself, ‘This man is not being truthful’. Then, Ajay Devgn expressed interest.

However, he was already a major star and had a packed schedule. The following day, Akshay reached out to me and requested a meeting. I welcomed him, and it was our first formal encounter. He had an excellent reputation, and I distinctly remember thinking he was quite attractive. During that meeting, I made the decision to cast him in Jaanwar.”

He acknowledged the potential risks involved. “The main drawback was that he had a history of numerous flops. Thus, from the audience’s and the industry’s viewpoint, he was seen as a… In fact, many of his films had been halted midway. He was not engaged in any projects, completely available. He was eager to give me his all, and I intended to extract double the effort from him.”

As their professional relationship flourished, the two worked together on seven films over the span of seven years. Suneel shared a personal anecdote from that period: “In fact, Akshay made a commitment to me. He took my hand and said, ‘Please promise you’ll make 100 films with me’. I thought to myself, ‘This must be how he proposes to women’. We collaborated for seven years, producing seven films together. I reflect on that time with warmth, despite the fact that the conclusion was not very pleasant.”

However, as Akshay gained fame, Suneel noticed a change. “As actors achieve greater popularity and success, a certain ‘corruption’ tends to emerge. They begin to communicate less directly and rely on their teams and managers for interaction.

In a previous interview with Bollywood Hungama, Suneel discussed how Akshay’s personal life influenced work dynamics, particularly in projects with Priyanka Chopra. “I was informed that she had problems with Priyanka… I believe the profession carries its own risks. At times, the closeness, along with the personal lifestyles of individuals, can interfere, and the media often exaggerates these situations, not understanding the extent of the loss a filmmaker might endure because of…”