Akshay Kumar and Amy Jackson at a promotional event of  their film “Singh Is Bliing” in Gurgaon, Sep. 20. (Press Trust of India)

Akshay Kumar, whose filmography boasts of hit comedies like “Hera Pheri,” “Welcome” and “Singh is Kinng,” says comedy actors do not get their due in the film industry.

“I love comedy. It is a difficult genre to do but unfortunately comic hero doesn’t get his due in this industry because we look down on it,” the actor said in an interview.

Akshay is admired by fans and critics for his remarkable on-screen comic timing but the superstar feels an actor does not get the deserved recognition until he or she does romantic and heavy-duty movies.

“Unless you do romance and tragedy, you don’t get ‘best actor’ award. If you are making people laugh, it looks like buffoonery. It’s very sad that this happens,” he said.

“Long back Amitabh Bachchan sir did comedy in ‘Desh Premi’. He used to do hero’s role as well as the comedy. Even Kishore Kumar sir used to do it. There are very few people who did it and so I just followed it,” he said.

Akshay Kumar at a promotional event of his film “Singh Is Bliing” in Gurgaon, Sep. 20. (Press Trust of India)
Akshay Kumar at a promotional event of his film “Singh Is Bliing” in Gurgaon, Sep. 20. (Press Trust of India)

The 48-year-old actor added that he is happy to see comedians getting a lot of work in movies and on television now.

“They (comedians) have a lot of work, there are 180 films made every year… there are a lot of TV shows happening and there is comedy in ads nowadays.”

Akshay is back with a light-hearted film “Singh is Bliing,” which also stars Amy Jackson, Lara Dutta and Kay Kay Menon.

The “Baby” star was keen on having Lara in the movie. The two have earlier worked together in the actress’ debut “Andaz,” “Housefull,” “Bhaagam Bhaag” and others.

“I requested her to come and be a part of our film. The whole story is that Amy Jackson (other co-star) does not know how to speak Hindi and I don’t know how to speak English and our romance starts but there is communication gap.”

Praising Amy, Akshay said, “She is one of the best fighters that I have come across as a heroine, and she is beautiful.”

For “Singh is Bliing,” Akshay shot with a lion and the actor calls the scene as the biggest stunt in the movie.

“I shot with a lion and that is the biggest stunt. I am not fighting with him … he is just sitting behind my car, he has got a huge face,” he said.

“The lion’s name is Mufasa, a full grown lion … He is very loving but you are taking a risk sitting with him,” he added.

The film, directed by Prabhudheva, is set to release in October.