I copy common people: Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar's just released 'Housefull' has broken the dry spell at the box office by earning Rs.64 crore in the opening weekend worldwide.

The star says the secret of his success as a comedian is that he mimics common people around for most of his roles.

"The expressions that you see are mostly stolen from the faces of common people. Normally mimicry is done of big actors, but it is fun to mimic those people who have no connection with this industry. So I copy common people without copyright (laughs)," Akshay, 42, told us in an interview.

"I travel a lot. Recently, I got stuck at the Frankfurt airport because of the volcano ashes incident. I had to wait long. So I sat down and looked around and people have something to offer. It's amazing just to register that and sometimes while playing a character, suddenly that comes out and you start acting like that person. That's what's called mimicry," he added.

The actor has worked in more than 90 films in his almost two-decades-long career. In the beginning, he mostly featured in action movies like 'Khiladi', 'Elaan', 'Mohra' and 'Main Khiladi Tu Anari'. He also did romantic films like 'Yeh Dillagi', 'Dhadkan' and 'Dil Toh Paagal Hai'.

With Priyadarshan's 2000 hit film 'Hera Pheri', he forayed big time into comedies and tickled the audience's funny bone with his performance in comic capers like 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi', 'Garam Masala', 'Phir Hera Pheri', 'Namastey London', 'Bhagam Bhaag', 'Heyy Babyy' and 'Singh Is Kinng'.

Akshay gives credit to three directors for grooming him as a comedian. "I would like to thank three people who contributed hugely in whatever little comedy I have learnt. The three are Neeraj Vora, Priyadarshanji and Rajkumar Santoshi.

"Let me tell you comedy is a big, big, big space. The biggest comedian was Charlie Chaplin who could make people laugh without saying a word. Then we have Mr. Bean. They are amazing," said Akshay.