Actor Akshay Oberoi is riding high on the success of Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, which has already pulled in Rs 200 crore at the box office. Oberoi plays the stylish gangster Tony in this Yash-led production. Despite mixed reviews from critics and audiences, Oberoi is proud of his performance.
The actor acknowledged the split reception, saying some viewers have hailed the film as a spectacle, while others have taken issue with its storytelling. The film's audience rating was recently removed from BookMyShow. Oberoi, however, remains unfazed by public opinion. "I am proud of the film. My work on it is done, so don’t ask me about people’s reaction on it, " he stated.
Oberoi secured the role of Tony through a unique audition process for director Geetu Mohandas. Mohandas, already confident in Oberoi's acting chops, wanted to test his English skills since parts of the film were in English. Instead of sending a simple voice note, Oberoi put on a suit and sent a video enacting lines from Moe Greene in The Godfather.
From the start, the character of Tony had Oberoi's attention. Mohandas had a detailed vision for Tony's look, clothing, and behavior, which intrigued Oberoi. Among a large cast, Tony offered him a chance to stretch creatively.
Oberoi often finds himself in big-budget ensemble films, like Fighter (2024) and the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan-starrer King. He has long wanted to transition into more leading roles. "It will take time, but it will happen, " he said, adding, "Every dog has its day."
For Oberoi, being part of major productions like Toxic is a pivotal opportunity. He sees these roles as once-in-a-lifetime chances to boost his visibility. He also takes smaller roles "just to be seen, " hoping to eventually gain more control over his career choices.
His 2017 film Gurgaon, which recently received a tribute screening, was crucial in his career journey. While his performance in Gurgaon was critically acclaimed, the film had a limited theatrical release, showing on only 70 to 80 screens across India. As a result, many missed it.
Two years later, Gurgaon found a broader audience on Netflix. This exposure was key, leading to his role in Flesh (2020), produced by Siddharth Anand. Flesh then led to his casting in Fighter, which paved the way for Toxic.
Oberoi emphasized the ripple effect of these projects. At a Toxic event in Hyderabad, both Gurgaon and Fighter were mentioned during his introduction on stage. He was surprised to hear these two films referenced together.
Looking to the future, Oberoi wants more financial clout in his projects. While he doesn't aim to lead a Rs 200 crore film, he's keen on starring in movies with budgets in the Rs 20-25 crore range. He also expressed a desire to create his own content, focusing on performance-driven stories that offer a captivating theatrical experience.
