A legend in his own right, Akshay Kumar moderated a panel discussion at the inaugural Waves 2025 Summit, featuring icons from across Indian cinema – Mohanlal, Chiranjeevi, Mithun Chakraborty, Hema Malini and Rajinikanth. The session was held at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, on the first day of the four-day event. Chiranjeevi spoke about his acting inspirations, and the insecurities that he experienced while starting out in a field dominated by veterans. Mohanlal, on the other hand, spoke about the Malayalam industry establishing itself as the ‘intellectual soul’ of Indian cinema.
During the interaction, Telugu star Chiranjeevi reflected on his early inspirations. He said that as a child, he used to entertain friends and family with dance. That’s when he discovered that he has an inherent talent for the performing arts. “Slowly my inclination towards acting developed, that’s when I went to Chennai, and right from the beginning, so many legends were already there. More than half-a-dozen superstars were already there. What is that extra that I could contribute? My aim was to hit the bullseye.”
He said that he took inspiration from legends such as Amitabh Bachchan in terms of action, and from Mithun Chakraborty for naturalistic acting. “In 1977, I was a student at the Film Institute, and I saw Mithun da, and the performance he won a National Award for. I took inspiration from him, to not wear makeup and look like average boy. From Sholay, I learned to do all my stunts myself. I took inspiration from the great Amitabh Bachchan. For dancing, I took inspiration from Kamal, my senior. I moulded myself.”
Akshay praised the Malayalam industry for pushing creative boundaries, and asked Mohanlal how the industry has managed to set itself apart. The legendary actor said, “There’s a thin line between art-house and commercial success, but it’s closely linked. Malayalam industry has always been like this. Even our art films have got entertainment value. Even entertainers have art. I’ve had the opportunity to work with great directors… New directors are making only art.”
The session was called Legends & Legacies: The Stories That Shaped India’s Soul. The Waves 2025 Summit was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on Thursday morning, and is designed as “a key forum for promoting discussions, collaboration, and innovation in the media and entertainment industry.” According to the Waves website, “The event will bring together industry leaders, stakeholders, and innovators to discuss prospects, challenges, promote trade to India, and influence the sector’s future.”
