When Twinkle Khanna REFUSED to work with Akshay Kumar during his career slump, agreed only after papa Rajesh Khanna insisted
Today, Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna are considered one of Bollywood's most enduring celebrity couples, but there was a time when working together wasn't exactly on Twinkle's wishlist. Looking back at a candid conversation from years later, Twinkle revealed that her father, late superstar Rajesh K
By Toi Entertainment Desk

Today, Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna are considered one of Bollywood's most enduring celebrity couples, but there was a time when working together wasn't exactly on Twinkle's wishlist.
Looking back at a candid conversation from years later, Twinkle revealed that her father, late superstar Rajesh Khanna, played a key role in bringing her and Akshay together professionally.During an appearance on the talk show 'Two Much', which she co-hosts with Kajol, Twinkle recalled how an old commitment made by her father left her with little choice. "We actually met because of my dad.
My dad had an old producer friend.’ He said, ‘You have to work in this movie because I have given my word.’ I didn’t want to work with him at that point, but I did."Why Twinkle Khanna was hesitant about Akshay KumarThe actress-author did not shy away from revealing the reason behind her reluctance.
At the time, Akshay's career was going through a rough patch, with several films failing at the box office.
Twinkle candidly admitted that his professional struggles influenced her perception of him.Explaining her mindset, she said, "He was going through a bad phase, and I was being snobby." Sitting alongside them, Saif Ali Khan immediately came to Akshay's defence and reminded everyone of the actor's resilience. "You’ve always given some flops and then super hits, so who cares?" he remarked, drawing laughter from the group.The extensive background check before marriageAnother amusing chapter from their relationship surfaced when Akshay revisited the period before their wedding in 2001.
Unlike many couples who rely on traditional compatibility tests, Twinkle reportedly adopted a much more scientific approach before agreeing to marry him.Sharing the story, Akshay said, "Aadmi jab shaadi karta hai toh do kundliyaan milata hai. (When people get married, they usually match their birth chart. ) She didn’t believe in that.
You know what she did? She checked if my father had any kind of disease—she’s removed all the genetic and DNA background till my mamas, chachas and chachis.
And then, and only then, she decided that, okay, I can marry him."Over the years, both Akshay and Twinkle have often spoken about their contrasting personalities.
During the same interaction, Akshay described their marriage as a classic case of opposites attracting."She is fire.
I am water.
She says whatever she wants to.
I just keep myself calm and quiet.
Just listen and try to understand what she’s trying to say.
Do whatever you want, but listen.
I think every husband should be a good listener," he said.His comments echoed an earlier revelation made by Twinkle on 'Koffee with Karan' in 2016, where she elaborated on the detailed investigation she conducted before marriage. "The reason you get married is primarily to have children.
So, you are introducing this genetic strain into your family line.
I wanted to know what diseases run in his family.
At what age did his uncles lose their hair? What did Kanchan Chachi die of?" she had said, adding that Akshay's family eventually passed her "litmus test".How 'Mela' unexpectedly changed Akshay's lifeOne of the most fascinating anecdotes connected to their wedding involved Aamir Khan's 2000 film 'Mela'.
During an appearance on 'Aap Ki Adalat', Akshay disclosed that Twinkle had attached a rather unusual condition to his marriage proposal.Recalling the incident, he said, "When her film with Aamir Khan Sahab, Mela, was about to release, we were having an affair.
So I asked her, ‘Let’s get married?’ But she didn’t want to marry.
So, she said she’d marry only if Mela doesn’t work.
Everyone believed that Mela would work wonders because it’s an Aamir Khan film, with Dharmesh Darshan as the director.
Sorry, Aamir Khan sahab, that film of yours didn’t work.
But I got married because of you."Years later, the story remains one of Bollywood's most memorable relationship anecdotes, proving that sometimes unexpected box-office results can end up changing lives far beyond the cinema screen.Akshay Kumar's work front While fans continue to enjoy stories from Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna's early years together, the actor remains one of the busiest stars in the industry.
Akshay is currently gearing up for the release of 'Welcome To The Jungle', directed by Ahmed Khan.
The comedy entertainer boasts a massive ensemble cast and is scheduled to arrive in cinemas worldwide on June 26, 2026.Read the latest Entertainment News and Celebrity updates.
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