It is not always that Shah Rukh Khan praises some other actor - at least his peer. For, there are none too, if one goes by the popularity of the King Khan. But recently, Don Khan heaped loads of praises on Akshay Jaane-E-Mann Kumar.

“Akshay has achieved what he has through sheer hard work. Such actors inspire a whole generation. I think he is one superstar who’s never given his due,” SRK had remarked. When we asked Kumar to comment on it, he was surprised. “I haven’t read that, I should have,” he smiled. Later, he said that he felt embarrassed, happy, elated, yet surprised. “I have always held Shah Rukh in high esteem. I have always thought he makes the box office dance to his tune, which other actors fail to do, except Mr Bachchan. I am glad that he thinks good about me. Shah Rukh is the real superstar; and I am not surprised.”

So, has Khan been an inspiration to him? “Of course, he is an inspiration to so many people, but then, our lives have turned out so similar. We both didn’t have a godfather when we entered the industry. We both struggled a lot before we achieved success. So, in many ways, we are similar,” Kumar analyses.

One actor praising another in Bollywood is rare, but SRK is never known to please people with loose talks or fake encomiums. Kumar agrees, “He is an honest person and he is never afraid to say anything that he wants to. That’s the best part about him,” says Kumar, admitting that they don’t know each other too well.