Bollywood A-list actor Akshay Kumar disclosed that he changed his name for a specific reason rather than at the request of a priest after getting into movies.
In a recent interview, Akshay Kumar disclosed that Rajiv Bhatia was his real name. He also discussed the rationale behind taking on a new name for his films.
Regarding his feature film debut, Mahesh Bhatt's Aaj, in which he starred as a karate instructor in a cameo, he remarked, "Do you know what was Kumar Gaurav's name in the film? Asshay. That is how my name came to be.
"Not many people know this," he went on.
"My true name is Rajiv, so when I asked jokingly during filming what the name of the hero was in the movie, they responded it was Akshay. I told them I wanted to keep my name as Akshay.
Kumar continued, “Rajiv is a good name and I think back then, Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister or something. So it was a great name but I changed it “aise hi” (like that). It wasn’t like some pandit advised me to change my name! My father also asked me, what’s wrong with you? But I told him the same, that the hero’s name in my first film was this, so I will keep it!”