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HomeOpinionTwinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar have cracked the marriage code

Twinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar have cracked the marriage code

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Twinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar are Bollywood’s Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in the way they leverage their political branding.

Twinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar have the most politically interesting marriage in Bollywood. Their Left-Right marriage is a lot like an India split in the middle politically. But unlike India, or Twitter, Twinkle and Akshay have apparently cracked the code.

Twinkle is delightful. She has a refreshing, gently deprecating sense of humour coupled with a strong sense of justice. She speaks on issues that concern her, is a liberal in every sense of the word, and is always mildly amused by her own (unsuccessful) forays into Bollywood.

Akshay is India’s reigning Hindi superstar. He’s had a series of hit films, and is currently the most bankable actor in mainstream cinema, and covers everything from toilets, to menstrual pads, to sensational murder trials. He has successfully captured an enviable storytelling capacity – he sells nationalism bordering on jingoism, but makes it palatable. He has filled the void Manoj Kumar left, but has done so in ‘acceptable’ ways.

In most worlds, these two individuals would be at loggerheads. Indeed, they’re on such diametrically different points of the spectrum, they might as well not be on the same one. They are, as Twinkle said in a recent interview, like NDTV and Republic TV blaring together in the same room. And yet, they’re married. And they’re pulling it off.


Also read: Modi-loving Bollywood can learn from Kim Kardashian, who raised prison reforms with Trump


Their journeys to their respective ideological stances almost mirror each other. Akshay’s nationalism began as early as 2007 with Namastey London and solidified itself starting 2014 with Holiday: A Soldier is Never off Duty, while Twinkle’s first book, Mrs Funnybones, propelled her to pop-lit fame in 2015. Where Akshay filled screens with heroes we could root for, in sharp contrast to the nuance that was trying to find its footing in the Indian cinema through grey characters, Twinkle gave the audiences smart, sassy reading that cut through the clutter and portrayed real women as characters. They’re both not the best at what they do – but they’re definitely the best at how they market themselves.

Both of them offer a sharp departure from the celebrity status quo in India. Instead of staying apolitical or, in most cases, appeasing (hence appealing) the majority, they’ve both been loud, open, and actively engaged with their stance.

Where Twinkle tweets about freedom and its loss, Akshay cheers on with an ABVP flag. They both know their audiences and cater to them well, but do so fully knowing what they stand for, and what they represent. A celebrity couple that is perhaps as political as Akshay and Twinkle is Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, both of whom interacted with US President Donald Trump but in incredibly different capacities.


Also read: In the long struggle for GST waiver on sanitary napkins, Akshay Kumar gets to be the hero


Just like Twinkle and Akshay, Kardashian and West galvanise their substantial resources and clout to hold fast to their beliefs. Just like them, they also seem to truly believe in what they say. They refuse to bow down to the pressures of what is ‘expected’ of them. Indeed, they defy the common belief in the possibility of political reconciliation. In a world that is increasingly polarised and seemingly incapable of coexistence, they’re proof that some people have it in them to make it work.

It might not be for you, and it’s definitely not for me. But they make massive inroads into their own markets, champion their own individual beliefs, and somehow still manage to be a team. It’s admirable on many levels, and leaves me slightly bemused on others. Considering everyone wears ideology like a badge of honour and recognition now, would I personally be able to do what they do? Would I be able to keep politics and everything it stands for out of my home?


Also read: Real ‘Padman’ hopes Akshay Kumar-starrer will help men understand menstruation


I don’t know. I hope Twinkle will write a how-to for it someday. I’d buy a copy (if only to disagree with everything she says).

The author is a poet.

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3 COMMENTS

  1. Politics and everything it stands for is probably indeed out of their homes. And it’s part of the marketing strategy to project such differences. Done so well that It has become worthy of an article by you! It’s probably just hypocrisy (level-extreme). Aside that what a lovely write up. Your style ????

  2. Loved this one Harnidh. In fact, I would want to buy a how-to written by you on “How to articulate your words with the voice in your head and express it fully”

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