Akshay Kumar was born in Amritsar, India to Hari Om Bhatia and Aruna Bhatia.

[10] His father Hari Om Bhatia was a military officer. From a young age, Kumar was
recognised as a performer, particularly as a dancer. He was raised in Delhi's Chandni Chowk before moving to Mumbai where he lived in Koliwada, a Punjabi
dominated area.[11] He received his school education from Don Bosco School and enrolled in Mumbai's Guru Nanak Khalsa College for higher education.[11] Kumar
also has a sister, Alka Bhatia.[12][13][14] When Kumar was a teenager, his father asked him what he aspired to be. Kumar expressed his desire to become an actor.[15]

After having obtained a black belt in Taekwondo while in India,[16] he studied martial arts in Bangkok, Thailand, where he learned Muay Thai and worked as a chef
and waiter.[16]Upon his return to Mumbai, he commenced the teaching of martial arts. One of his students, an aspiring photographer, recommended Kumar into
modelling which ultimately led to a modelling assignment. Kumar effectively made more money within the first two days of shooting, in comparison to his entire
months salary, and therefore chose a modelling career path. He also worked as a background dancer in various films.[17] One morning, he missed his flight for an
ad-shoot in Bangalore. Disappointed with himself, he visited a film studio along with his portfolio. Fortunately that evening, Kumar was signed for a lead role by
producer Pramod Chakravarthy for the movie Deedar.[18][19][20]