Akshay Kumar Gets Emotional Recalling His Father While Talking About Laalo’s Success

Wheel of Fortune witnessed a truly magical beginning as host Akshay Kumar made a soulful and captivating entry, playing the Krishna flute. The serene melody instantly created a divine and heartfelt atmosphere. Setting the tone for an evening filled with inspiration and emotion, Akshay then warmly welcomed the cast of the Gujarati film Laalo onto the stage.

Soon after, Akshay introduced the film’s cast including Shruhad Goswami , Reeva Rachh, and Karan Joshi , along with director Ankit Sakhiya . While welcoming them, he shared the deeply moving and inspiring journey behind the film, speaking with admiration about how three friends pursued their dream of making a movie despite having no money, armed with nothing but an unshakable belief in each other.

Sharing the story with the audience, Akshay said, “Lekin unke paas paise nahi the, actors kaise hire kare, cameras kahan se leke aaye, costume ka kharcha kaise kare. In sawaalon ke bawajood inhone haar nahi maani, 1 dost se camera udhaar liya, 2 doston ko acting karne ko kaha, aur ek hi location par uss camera ke saath poori ki poori film banana shuru kar di. Aur phir kya, phir aisa kamaal ho gaya ki yeh film Gujarati film industry ki sab se, sab se badi blockbuster ban gayi. Jisne 100 cr bhi paar kar diye, aur aapko pata hai yeh film kitne mein bani thi, sirf Rs 48 lakhs.”

Later in the episode, the mood turned reflective as Akshay turned to director Ankit Sakhiya and spoke about the fragile, early days after the film’s release. He mentioned with a heavy heart that the movie did not perform well initially and was on the verge of being taken down from theatres within two to three weeks. He then asked Ankit to share the vulnerability of what happened during that painful phase.

Ankit revealed that every morning, he and his team would visit the theatres where their film was playing. They would interact with the audience members present, asking them how they felt. According to him, the reactions were overwhelming; people often liked the film so much that many even had tears in their eyes. However, despite the positive reactions, he could not understand the heartbreaking silence of the empty seats and why audiences were still not coming to theatres in large numbers.

At that point, Akshay stepped in to reveal the sheer sacrifice Ankit made next, saying, “Ye logon ko paise dete the ki jaao meri film dekho. Ye lo, main ticket deta hoon. Agar acchi lage toh jaake apne doston ko batana.” Ankit nodded in a silent, emotional agreement as Akshay continued, explaining how he used whatever little money he had left to literally buy a chance for his film to be heard, encouraging people to watch and spread the word.

Drawing a deeply personal and tearful connection to the story, Akshay shared a cherished memory from his own early days in the industry. He said, “Main aapko ek baat batana chahta hoon ki yeh cheez aur mere mein kya common hain.” His voice softened as he recalled, “Mere father, jab tak woh zinda the, unki death 2000 mein huyi thi. Tab tak mere jo bhi films release hoti thi, woh logon ko pakad pakad kar le jaate the aur meri film unhe dikhate the. Har film unhone mere 18 se 20 baar dekhi hogi.”

Akshay added that while it was a father’s unconditional love in his case, the passion and selfless dedication shown by Ankit and his team for their film was truly remarkable. He noted that the kind of history created by the film is a rare miracle that happens when heart meets hard work.

Akshay then asked Ankit what he had learned from this grueling journey of turning a shoestring budget into a ₹100-crore success. Reflecting on the tears and triumphs, Ankit said, “Ek hi baat sikhai hain, jo hum discuss karte rehte the, agar kuch karna hain toh nikalna padega.”

Ankit also shared that the team had shot the film in just 40 days, fueled by the immense support of friends who refused to let them fail. He mentioned that around 15 producers were involved in the project, many of whom were his college friends who stepped in to offer their own savings whenever funds were running low. Akshay appreciated this beautiful spirit of friendship, calling it wonderful. Ankit concluded by adding that the film itself is a tribute to friendship, making the real-life journey behind it come full circle.

The conversation ended on an inspiring and emotional note as Akshay Kumar praised the team’s determination and the strong friendship behind the film, highlighting how belief, passion, and perseverance can turn even the smallest beginnings into a remarkable success story.