Bhumi Pednekar: ‘Akshay sir and I have a really feel-good value’

For Bollywood star Bhumi Pednekar, teaming up with superstar Akshay Kumar again is the best birthday present that she could have wished for. Akshay and Bhumi, who worked together in the blockbuster Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, are coming together for Aanand L Rai's Rakshabandhan now.

Bhumi, who turns a year older today, says, “I think for starters the fact that we come from a film that really worked, was loved and had such an important social message that people have similar expectations from our current collaboration as well. But I feel Akshay sir and I have a really feel-good value and people know if we are coming then it will be something meaningful and yet entertaining.”

She adds, “Akshay sir is someone who I really admire and he is someone who has really worked his way up and there are aspects of his journey that I really admire like he dreamt big and achieved it. And so did I. I think the success story is something that also works for people and is inspirational for people.” Bhumi had requested for a day off from shooting Rakshabandhan which was granted by Akshay and Aanand L Rai. She will be spending time with her mother, Sumitra and sister, Samiksha and have an intimate birthday.

The versatile actress, who runs the lauded social advocacy platform Climate Warrior, has a special wish for her birthday. She says, “I think my wish definitely would be that our generation should be the generation that should start restoring the planet because that is most important. I truly wish that we address the dangers that we are challenged with and take steps to rectify it and that can only happen if we all change the way our perspective towards our planet is. We have to realise that everything is limited and one day if we don’t stop, we will be done and over. For my career, my wish is that I continue doing good work and I continue breaking boundaries. The loyal fan base that I have created over the years I want to make sure that I don’t disappoint them.”

Currently, Bhumi has a stellar line up of films that are set to be announced soon. She is also working in awaited projects like Badhaai Do and Mr Lele. Bhumi, who has done ground-breaking work in films like Son Chiriya, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Bala, Toilet : Ek Prem Katha, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Lust Stories, etc is proud to be an actress in today’s Bollywood.

“I think I became an actor at a time when content started overpowering all other aspects of cinema. I realized that the language of cinema was changing and I feel very fortunate enough that I was an active part of the change. I think at that time the basic mould of how an actor was changed and I got a big opportunity to do that through all the characters that I have played,” she says.

Bhumi adds, “The relatability of the girl next door where people felt the stories were their own, where people saw me play characters that they could relate with I think that is something that worked with me. The fact that when they saw me on-screen, they said that they know this girl and that could be their daughter, their niece, their nephew, girlfriend, wife, sister etc. I think that is one of the biggest things that has worked for me so far.”