Akshay Kumar

Bollywood action star Akshay Kumar is the brand ambassador for Sonic, a channel from the Viacom 18 group that targets the 10-17 age group. A t2 chat…

How did the association with Sonic come about?

The people behind the channel came to me and said that they wanted me to be the face of this action-adventure-animation channel. Waise toh zindagi mein bahut logon ke saath mulaqat hoti hai… bahut saare proposals aur endorsements aate hain… but this was something that I was keen on associating with right from the start. This is the action-loving generation… kids these days love stuff that pumps up their adrenaline. My son (Aarav) loves the kind of shows that Sonic is going to be airing and I thought: ‘I do so many things for myself. Let me do this for my son’. I am doing this for him.

Plus, the kind of animation programmes … like Shaktimaan, Power Rangers… that will be shown on Sonic are world-class.

How are Akshay Kumar and Sonic a perfect fit?

I love action, I love adventure and I am always ready to be a part of something that promises me that. Most of the shows, especially the animation programmes that you will see on Sonic, have the theme that good always triumphs over evil. That is something that I have always believed in and I want the kids of today to believe in it too. The tagline for Sonic is ‘Thrill Guts and Glory’ and that is me. Akshay Kumar is all about thrill, guts and glory (laughs).

Will you host or present a show on the channel?

As of now, I am just the face of the channel. However, I am not averse to hosting a show on it. Viacom 18 and I go a long way. I have been associated with Colors right from the start. Today, it’s one of the leading channels. I have hosted three seasons of Khatron Ke Khiladi for them. So, I am sure something more will materialise with them soon on Sonic.

This channel is being targeted at the age group of 10-17. How do you feel Sonic will impact the viewership pattern of its target group?

I think every kid of that age loves watching shows that are high on action and adventure. And then, animation is also something that viewers of all ages love. I love watching my cartoons! Plus, Sonic is going to be showing a lot of adventure films and I feel that kids between 10 and 17 will now have a specific channel to tune in to. There has always been something for adults… something for housewives… for younger kids… but there was no TV channel that catered to this age group. I feel that Sonic is just what they needed. I can say this because my son belongs to that age group (Aarav is nine) and I know what kind of programmes and films get him all excited.

What does Aarav like watching on television ?

Oh, he loves watching Jackie Chan (films) and Power Rangers! They are his absolute favourites. He is a huge fan of Kung Fu Panda. He can watch it for hours (laughs).

You have always emphasised on the need for physical activity for kids and now you are urging them to watch television!

When television educates and inspires, it is always a good thing. Yes, I want kids to be active… to have their playtime…. I don’t want them to be couch potatoes. But if they learn something good on TV, then I am all for it. They should watch shows that teach them good values and practise them in their lives.

What kind of TV did you like to watch when you were Aarav’s age?

I loved Invisible Man. Fireball XL5 (a science fiction-themed children’s television show in the 1960s) was a huge favourite with me. I don’t think you were even born then!

You said you love watching cartoons. Any favourites?

Fireball XL5 has been a top favourite through the years. I can still watch it. And I simply love watching Spider-Man with my son!

Priyanka Roy
What were your favourite childhood TV shows? Tell t2@abp.in

STARS AND SWIPES

ALL IN THE GAME

Sonam Kapoor and Bipasha Basu are defying convention. In an industry where two actresses find it tough to be civil to each other, these two could actually be called ‘friends’. What’s more, there’s not a whiff of competition between the two. While everyone has been talking about Bipasha’s perfect bikini bod in Players, Sonam is not losing sleep over it. “Why should I be upset that people are talking about Bipasha’s bikini scene? I keep telling her to wear even shorter dresses because she is looking incredibly hot in the film. The shorter her dress, the bigger opening the film will get,” says Sonam. Let’s hope this friendship isn’t as short as Bips’s dress!

STAR OF THE MASSES

The other recent ‘industry’ friendship is between Emraan Hashmi (left) and his Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai and The Dirty Picture producer Ekta Kapoor. Though the actor was missing from the success party of TDP in Juhu last week, the Queen Bee proclaimed to everyone present that Emraan is the big star to watch out for. “After Salmanbhai, Emraan is a big mass star. From his generation, no one commands the same kind of love and respect from the young boys in the audiences like Emraan,” says Ekta. Emraan, on the other hand, is so keen on moving his career to the next step that he is taking all the advice Ekta has to offer.

LIVING IT UP

Unlike other cities where the rich and the famous live in sprawling bungalows, some of the biggest stars in Mumbai are content with apartments. They might have multi-level apartments with all the amenities but only a few can dream of owning a bungalow. So, imagine everyone’s surprise when this beefcake, who has just come out of a fairly long career slump, recently bought a whole building and the adjoining land in Bandra. The actor, who moved into his duplex sea-facing apartment just earlier this year, is planning on demolishing the highrise. “His younger brother is an architect and he’ll design the bungalow which will include a gym,” says a source close to the actor.

KARISHMA UPADHYAY