Akshay Kumar: Sunglasses, movies and more

Akshay Kumar: Movie icon and sunglasses star

Akshay Kumar has had a powerhouse career spanning over three decades. While his movies dominate the box office, his wardrobe is ruled by tasteful frames giving us major sunglasses inspiration. Be it Akshay Kumar’s movies or his style, he tops in all he does. With his talent and chic shades, Kumar remains paragon in his streak. 

Talk about superstars, and you realise Bollywood has outgrown that phase. We are no longer in the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and early 2000s, where only a few dominated the industry. Today, the storytelling dynamics and the way we look at actors have changed. But notably among all, Akshay Kumar is the only actor who has remained the undisputed king since the ‘90s in the Indian film industry. 

There have been hits and misses, but Kumar has managed to stay on top of the game throughout. On one hand, the Khans and others are struggling with their movies underperforming at the box office and suffering massive losses. Kumar, on the other hand, has emerged as a thoughtful and powerful actor, producer and entrepreneur post-Modi era. 

The 53-year-old actor was the first in the world to start the shoot of a movie (his movie Bell Bottom) and finish it during the pandemic. Akshay Kumar's upcoming movie is a spy thriller that takes you into an espionage world. 

Akshay Kumar’s donations and philanthropy

Besides making big movies, the actor and his wife Twinkle Khanna have also generously donated to the pandemic causes. As India fights against COVID-19, Akshay Kumar and his family have donated 100 oxygen concentrators during the second wave. He also donated INR 1 crore to cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir's foundation. The actor also made significant contributions of INR 25 crore to PM CARES Fund, and INR 2 crore to Mumbai Police Foundation. Also, Akshay Kumar donated INR 1 crore to both the Assam Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and Kaziranga Park rescue mission. 

While Kumar is a good samaritan, he is also an exceptional actor who turns every movie into gold. He picks versatile genres and gives the viewers a raw and realistic experience. Akshay Kumar's movie list is entertaining and, at the same time, also serves as the perfect vision book for his style evolution.

Every character portrayed by Kumar is well-crafted. They are meaty and society-oriented, and his costumes get special attention. Interestingly, in every role — the sunglasses are crucial in getting his desired look.

Before we see Akshay Kumar on the big screen, let's scroll through time and find some sunglasses inspiration from his collection. After all, a good pair of sunglasses is a must-have.

5 must-have sunglasses styles from Akshay Kumar's lookbook

The retro rectangle sunglasses 

Talk about Akshay Kumar’s sunglasses, and you can't miss his look from the movie Bhool Bhulaiya. The Priyadarshan-directed psychological-horror-comedy film is a cult movie that changed the way Bollywood dealt with this genre. Kumar as psychologist Dr. Aditya Shrivastav won viewers' hearts with his on-spot humour and quirky style. Think about the movie, and the image of Kumar in an Indian priest outfit with retro rectangle sunglasses is unforgettable. Those sunnies within no time became a rage among the fans with everyone owning a pair for sure. 

Get the look: While the movie was released in 2007, the thing about classic frames is that they never go out of trend. Easy to pair with any clothing style, these sunglasses are available in the market for every budget. Balenciaga offers a similar pair made from the finest Acetate materials. These rectangle, full-rim frames are hypoallergenic to make sure they never cause any irritation to your eyes and skin. Another option you can look for is from Ray-Ban. These military green frames come with dark grey lenses, giving them an uber-cool vibe. If looking for a budget option, you can opt for Loc's Lowrider Maddogger Shades.

Price: INR 23,306 for Balenciaga, INR 10,418 for Ray-Ban and INR 1,202 for Locs.

Classic statement aviators

It was the Khiladi movie franchise that established Akshay Kumar as the full-packed action hero. The actor’s costumes became the talk of the town in the ‘90s, and his aviators the latest craze. 

Since then, the aviators have remained constant in most of his movies. From Akshay Kumar's comedy movies — like the Housefull franchise — to his action thrillers — Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara, Rowdy Rathore, Baby, Laxmii — aviators have been used time and again. Even in the poster of his upcoming movie Bell Bottom, the actor looks dapper in the black aviators. 

If that doesn’t say enough, scroll through his Instagram and witness the testimony of his love towards aviators. All those with strong jawlines and defined cheekbones like the actor should blindly pick this style. 

Get the look: The best thing about aviators is that they are commonly available at both online and offline stores. For an affordable buy, check out Lenkart's Vincent Chase collection. Ray-Ban also offers a wide range of aviators available in different frame and lens colours. 

Price: Starting at INR 1,299 for Lenskart and starting at INR 6,590 for Ray-Ban

SEE RELATED: Top sunglasses trends for men

Double-bridge round sunglasses 

Another one from Akshay Kumar's collection is the double-bridge round sunglasses style. Wear these basic frames anywhere, anytime with anything. 

During promotions of the movie Kesari, the actor wore these round sunglasses with basic black denim and a hoodie to complete the look. In fact, his co-star Parineeti Chopra also opted for a similar style, giving us major style goals. Check out the actor's look and you will understand what makes this an impressive buy. 

In case you are looking for something quirky and eye-catching, Kumar's mirrored bridge round sunglasses are also a hit. Add any of these to your collection and you will create an impressive style statement. 

Get the look: For starters, the round, bridged sunglasses were created for military use. But, with time, they became a part of everyone's closet. Talk about these particular frames, and Ray-Ban's signature style pops up in your head. These great-looking round sunglasses have an all-metal frame. They are available in a variety of coloured lens options. Equipped with gradient lenses, the sunnies let you enjoy a smooth colour transition depending on the sunlight. Another sleek option comes from the house of Cartier Eyewear. Keeping it simple, these gold-tone-green frames are gorgeous, to say the least.

Price: INR 12,923 for Ray-Ban and INR 1,07,550 + tax for Cartier

Mirrored aviators

There is certainly a craze among celebrities and consumers in India for reflectors — aka mirrored aviators. When Bollywood makes an action-packed movie, mirror aviators are actors' go-to frames. Following the same tradition, the movie poster of Akshay Kumar's other upcoming movie, Sooryavanshi, saw him sporting golden-brown hued mirrored sunglasses. A look at the frames, and you will also remember actors Ajay Devgn from the movie Singham and Ranveer Singh from Simmba. That's how big the craze is for reflectors in the Indian market.

Get the look: These aviators are a bold, stylish and essential addition. You can buy this look from the luxury brand Michael Kors. The Chelsea Sunglasses from the brand are designed with a Monel Metal full-rim frame. Be it roaming around the city or chilling at a beach, these play the perfect role. You also have another option from everyone’s favourite Ray-Ban. The UV-protected aviator sunglasses come in a hard case that protects them. 

Price: INR 4,600 + shipping for Michael Kors and INR 8,712 for Ray-Ban

SEE RELATED: Amitabh Bachchan's 5 glasses frames to get the coolest style

Vintage oversized sunglasses

Akshay Kumar's upcoming release Bell Bottom is not just an interesting tale of unsung heroes — it also brings ‘80s fashion back in trend. One of the most-anticipated movies of the year, it hits the theatres on 27 July 2021. The release comes as a hope for the theatres’ owners and exhibitors who have been facing financial losses since the pandemic. 

Just like other Akshay Kumar movies, this one isn’t just high on action but also gives us a fashion flashback. The high, wide-leg trousers, printed ties, bespoke blazers and vintage oversized sunglasses instantly transport you to the retro world. In this case, it would be right to say that vintage looks and Akshay Kumar movies always manage to stay relevant. They are always in vogue, which makes the oversized frame a perfect wardrobe staple. 

Get the look: Titan Eye Plus is offering a pair of sunglasses that are quite close to Akshay Kumar's look in the movie. These bright coloured frames come with oversized gradient lenses and metal hinges. These budget-friendly sunnies might look loud to a few, but once in a while, we all can unleash our bold types.

Price: 1,839 

Creating the sharp, crisp and raw look

The 53-year-old is known for his Midas touch. Be it Akshay Kumar's first movie or his highly talked-about project Ram Setu, the actor sets trends one after another. Be it the stunts, his versatile acting or his graceful sense of clothing and accessories, Kumar always finds things and makes them his own. 

He keeps experimenting with his characters and at the same time makes sure that sunglasses are a considerable part of their personalities. Aviators dominate his vast sunglasses collection, followed by mirrored lenses. He also has a penchant for vintage and retro-style frames. For those looking to invest in quality sunglasses, take a cue from the popular Bollywood star. His style is a blend of classic and contemporary — which we all need.

READ MORE: The ultimate Ray-Ban Wayfarer guide

Page published on Wednesday, 30 June, 2021