Mumbai, March 16 (NationPress) The renowned Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar recently shared a heartfelt moment on his quiz show Wheel of Fortune. He reminisced about his late father's unwavering support and love throughout his career in the film industry.

Akshay stated, “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.”

He emphasized that it was his father's unconditional love that shaped him into the person he is today.

During the episode, he welcomed the cast of the successful Gujarati film Laalo, including Shruhad Goswami, Reeva Rachh, and Karan Joshi, along with director Ankit Sakhiya.

While playing the flute, Akshay introduced the cast and shared the inspiring journey behind the film, highlighting how three friends chased their dream of filmmaking despite lacking financial resources, fueled only by their faith in each other.

He narrated, “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, director Ankit Sakhiya discussed the challenging early days following the film’s release, noting it struggled initially and was at risk of being pulled from theaters within weeks.

When Akshay prompted Ankit to reflect on the difficulties they faced, Ankit shared that he and his team would visit the theaters daily to engage with the audience, asking for their thoughts.

Despite the film receiving emotional reactions, he was puzzled by the empty seats and low attendance.

Akshay revealed the extent of Ankit's dedication: “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.”

Akshay explained how Ankit invested the little money he had left to encourage viewers to watch the film and share their experiences.

Reflecting on this arduous journey, Ankit stated, “Ek hi baat sikhai hain, jo hum discuss karte rehte the, agar kuch karna hain toh nikalna padega.”

He added that the film was shot in just 40 days, supported by friends who refused to let them fail, with around 15 producers, many being college friends who contributed their savings when funds dwindled.

Akshay praised this spirit of camaraderie, calling it extraordinary. Ankit concluded that the film itself serves as a tribute to friendship, bringing their real-life journey full circle.