Actor Avinash Wadhawan, known for films like ‘Junoon’, ‘Geet’, and ‘Balmaa’, recently reminisced about his early years in Mumbai, when he and Akshay Kumar were aspiring actors trying to establish themselves in the film industry. Speaking on the Hindi Rush podcast, Wadhawan opened up about their close friendship before either of them found fame.Back then, Akshay Kumar was known by his birth name, Rajeev Bhatia, while Wadhawan went by Rakesh. The two lived in Lokhandwala and often helped each other in simple but meaningful ways as they navigated their struggling phase.“I knew him from back when neither he nor I were heroes. His name was Rajeev, and my name was Rakesh. We both lived in Lokhandwala, and we both had motorcycles. Sometimes he’d ride on my motorcycle, and sometimes I’d ride on his. We’d save money on petrol that way. If he had a photo shoot, he’d come over to my place and borrow one of my jackets. And when I had a photo shoot, I’d go to his house and borrow his jackets,” he said.Wadhawan also spoke about Akshay’s disciplined routine, recalling that his dedication to fitness and punctuality was evident long before he entered Bollywood.“He was the kind of guy who’d wake up at five in the morning. I was staying in a paying guest accommodation back then. He would come to my place around six in the morning to wake me up, while I’d be fast asleep. There used to be Nana Nani Park in Versova. He’d go there to practise and do his training. He’d ask me to come along too, but I never went. I just couldn’t wake up that early,” he recalled.According to Wadhawan, Akshay’s lifestyle has remained remarkably consistent over the years, with his commitment to fitness and punctuality becoming defining traits of his personality.“Akshay, what stood out to me was that he was always on time. He was an absolute fitness freak. Once work was over, he’d go home, and the next morning he’d be back on set right on time. That’s how his schedule always was,” he said.Sharing another anecdote, Wadhawan remembered the time both actors were filming different projects in Ooty while staying at the same hotel. Despite having a later call time, Akshay never skipped his morning run.“I still remember we were both in Ooty once. I was shooting for one film, and he was shooting for another, but we were staying in the same hotel. If my shift started at seven in the morning, I’d get ready, have breakfast, and head out. His shift, on the other hand, was at nine. Yet at six in the morning, you’d see him jogging on the streets of Ooty. We’d be driving to the set, and suddenly I’d spot Akshay Kumar running in the distance, out there on the road at six or six-thirty in the morning, even though his shoot didn’t begin until nine. That’s just his way of living life.”Although they shared a close bond during their early years, Wadhawan admitted that they gradually drifted apart as their lives and careers took different paths.“There hasn’t really been any effort from either side, sir. His life has gone in a different direction, and I’m living my own life. Everyone changes their mobile numbers every two or three years. So there hasn’t been any effort from either of us to get in touch again, stay connected, or reconnect,” he said.He further revealed that they have not spoken in several years, with their last conversation taking place over the phone around five or six years ago.“We haven’t spoken in years. We did speak once over the phone about five or six years ago. Since then, I think Akshay has changed his number again. So I don’t really know… I mean, I’m not really in touch with him anymore.”Avinash Wadhawan was last seen in the web series ‘State of Siege: 26/11’, while Akshay Kumar’s most recent release was ‘Welcome to the Jungle’.
