Akshay Oberoi has spoken about the important role that Fighter and filmmaker Siddharth Anand played in shaping the next phase of his acting career. The actor, who recently appeared as Tony in Yash’s Toxic, said that his work in Fighter helped him gain greater mainstream visibility and eventually opened the door to several major projects.
Oberoi played Squadron Leader Basheer Khan, also known as Bash, in Siddharth Anand’s 2024 aerial action film Fighter. The performance brought him wider recognition after years of working in smaller and critically appreciated projects.
According to Oberoi, the impact of Fighter extended beyond the film itself. He explained that filmmaker Geetu Mohandas watched Fighter and noticed his performance. This eventually contributed to his casting in Toxic, in which he played Tony, a stylish gangster opposite Yash.
Oberoi has described this chain of opportunities as an important development in his career. In a recent interview, he said that Siddharth Anand and producer Mamta Anand had given him an opportunity to work in a mainstream production after he had spent years appearing in smaller films.
The actor has expressed particular gratitude towards Siddharth Anand. Their professional association began before Fighter, and Oberoi has previously spoken about the filmmaker's trust in him. He has said that the opportunity to work in Fighter helped introduce his work to a much larger audience.
Oberoi's career before Fighter included performances in films such as Gurgaon, Laal Rang and Kaalakaandi, as well as appearances in web series and other projects. Although some of his performances received critical appreciation, he has acknowledged that many of his earlier films did not reach a wide theatrical audience.
Fighter became an important change in that regard. The film featured Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor alongside Oberoi and focused on the Indian Air Force and fighter pilots. Oberoi's role as Bash became one of the supporting characters in the film's ensemble.
The actor later found himself working with Geetu Mohandas in Toxic. According to Oberoi, Mohandas had seen his performance in Fighter before deciding to consider him for her film. Recent reports have also stated that the director's daughter first noticed Oberoi while watching Fighter, after which Mohandas became interested in casting him.
Toxic marked another major project for Oberoi. The film, starring Yash in the lead role, presented the actor in a very different character. Oberoi played Tony, a gangster, and has spoken positively about the opportunity despite the film receiving mixed reactions from critics and audiences.
Oberoi has said that he remains proud of the work completed by the Toxic team. He has praised Geetu Mohandas for her vision and described the experience as an important learning opportunity.
The actor's next major project is King, directed by Siddharth Anand and starring Shah Rukh Khan. For Oberoi, the film represents another reunion with the filmmaker who played a significant role in his recent career growth.
However, Oberoi has clarified that he has not yet shared screen space with Shah Rukh Khan in King. Instead, he has spent time with the superstar on the sets and observed his interactions with the people working on the project.
Speaking about Shah Rukh Khan, Oberoi praised the actor's approachable nature. He said that Khan visits the set even when he is not required to shoot and interacts comfortably with people around him.
Oberoi described Shah Rukh Khan as one of the kindest and gentlest people he has encountered. He also said that the superstar can make people feel comfortable within a short period and speaks to them in a friendly manner.
The comments offer a glimpse into Oberoi's experience working around one of India's biggest film stars. For him, Khan's behaviour on set demonstrates that professional success does not necessarily have to create distance from colleagues.
Oberoi also said that Shah Rukh Khan's willingness to be present on set, even when he is not directly involved in a scene, made an impression on him. According to the actor, Khan sometimes gives cues to other performers even when he is not part of the shot.
For Oberoi, this approach has become another professional lesson. He suggested that when one of the biggest stars in the industry continues to remain engaged with the filmmaking process, younger actors and other members of the team can learn from that attitude.
His comments about Siddharth Anand are similarly personal. Oberoi has described Anand as one of his favourite people in the film industry and has expressed strong gratitude for the trust the filmmaker placed in him.
The actor has also credited Mamta Anand, who has been associated with several of his career milestones. According to Oberoi, the Anands helped him move from smaller projects towards more prominent mainstream productions.
Fighter was therefore not simply another film in his career. It became an important professional bridge between his earlier work and the larger projects that followed.
The connection can be traced through several projects. Oberoi's work in Fighter brought him greater visibility, which helped him attract attention from Geetu Mohandas. That eventually resulted in his role in Toxic. He then reunited with Siddharth Anand for King.
This progression has become an important part of Oberoi's recent career story.
The actor has also said that he is grateful for the way his career developed rather than wishing that he had become an overnight star. He believes the years spent working in smaller projects gave him valuable experience and helped him develop as a performer.
His recent appearances suggest that he is now entering a different phase. Toxic gave him a role in a major pan-Indian production, while King brings him into a large-scale Hindi project led by Shah Rukh Khan.
Oberoi is also associated with other upcoming projects, including Love Lottery, Aashram Season 4 and a project directed by Neeraj Pandey, according to recent reports.
The actor's increasing presence in larger productions reflects the gradual expansion of his career rather than an overnight transformation.
For Oberoi, the journey from critically recognised smaller films to mainstream projects has taken several years. Fighter became a significant turning point, while Toxic and King have further increased his visibility.
His comments also highlight the importance of professional relationships in the film industry. The support and trust he says he received from Siddharth and Mamta Anand helped him secure opportunities that might otherwise have taken longer to arrive.
At the same time, his observations about Shah Rukh Khan focus on a different aspect of filmmaking. Rather than discussing the superstar's popularity or box-office record, Oberoi has highlighted his behaviour towards colleagues.
The actor's description of Khan as kind and gentle has attracted attention because it comes from someone who has spent time around him during the production of King.
King is expected to bring together a large ensemble cast that includes Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Arshad Warsi and Rani Mukerji, among others.
For Oberoi, being part of the film is another significant career milestone. It also reunites him with Siddharth Anand, whose earlier collaboration with him in Fighter helped change the visibility of his work.
The actor's latest comments therefore connect three important projects in his career. Fighter helped bring him greater mainstream attention, Toxic gave him a prominent role in a major production, and King represents another opportunity to work with Siddharth Anand alongside Shah Rukh Khan.
Oberoi's journey demonstrates how career opportunities can develop through a series of collaborations. A performance in one film can lead to another filmmaker discovering an actor, which can then result in further opportunities.
While Oberoi has expressed gratitude towards the people who supported his career, he also appears focused on continuing to grow as an actor.
His recent work shows a willingness to move between different types of films and characters. From playing an Air Force officer in Fighter to portraying a gangster in Toxic and joining the ensemble of King, his roles have continued to vary.
The actor's praise for Shah Rukh Khan also indicates that the experience of working on a large production can provide lessons beyond acting itself.
As King progresses towards its release, Oberoi's association with the film is expected to generate further interest. His reunion with Siddharth Anand and his experience around Shah Rukh Khan have already become talking points.
For now, Oberoi remains appreciative of the opportunities that have come his way. He has credited Fighter with changing the visibility of his work and Siddharth Anand with trusting him at an important stage of his career.
His latest comments about Shah Rukh Khan add another dimension to his experience on King. For the actor, the opportunity to observe one of the industry's biggest stars interacting with colleagues has been valuable.
With several projects lined up, Akshay Oberoi appears to be entering a busy period in his career. His journey from smaller films to major productions continues to evolve, with Fighter standing out as a significant turning point and King marking another major collaboration with Siddharth Anand.