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In the upcoming episode of Wheel of Fortune, Akshay Kumar revealed an unexpected chapter from his early acting days, crediting Chunky Panday as his first acting mentor. Much to everyone’s surprise, Kumar candidly shared, “Chunky is my teacher!” leaving the room in shock.
Recalling their early training days, Kumar spoke about attending acting classes where senior actors guided newcomers through iconic scenes. “We used to perform Amitabh Bachchan scenes, and Chunky-sir was our senior there,” he shared, fondly remembering those formative years of learning and struggle.
Never one to miss a punchline, Panday jumped in with his trademark wit, claiming full credit not just for Kumar’s acting lessons but also his dancing skills. “Acting bhi maine sikhayi, dance bhi maine hi sikhaya aur aaj tak guru dakshina bhi nahi mili (I taught him both how to act and dance, but he has yet to give me my guru-dakshina)!” he joked.
Adding to the playful banter, Gulshan Grover chimed in with his own cheeky take, saying, “I’m really proud of Akshay. He forgot what Chunky taught him and still turned out to be such a fantastic actor!”
The moment offered fans a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into Kumar’s journey, showing that even our biggest stars started out as eager students guided, teased, and shaped by friendships that last a lifetime.
Globally, Wheel of Fortune stands as one of the most iconic game shows in television history. It is recognized by Varietymagazine as the Most-Watched Entertainment Show on American television, honored by Guinness World Records as the World’s Most Popular TV Game Show, and a recipient of the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show. The format now makes its much-anticipated Indian debut with Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV as a weekday show.
Kumar and Panday, for the record, have co-starred in all the five films in the Housefull franchise, as also in De Dana Danand Tees Maar Khan. In 2025, Kumar featured with Panday’s daughter Ananya Pandey in Kesari 2, his home production, but not romantically. Similarly, Panday co-starred with Kumar’s wife, Twinkle Khanna, way back in 1996 in Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan.
