Between 2010 and 2019, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar underwent a dramatic creative reinvention on the silver screen. Moving beyond his familiar comfort zone of slapstick comedy and standard action blockbusters, he embraced espionage thrillers, patriotic dramas, historic evacuations, and pertinent social issues. Many of these releases paired solid entertainment with purposeful social messaging. For viewers looking to curate a binge-worthy digital watchlist of the actor's most memorable work from that decade, five distinctive titles stand out on major streaming services.
1. Special 26: A Gripping Fake CBI Raid Heist
Released in 2013, Special 26 is a crime thriller directed by Neeraj Pandey. The narrative draws inspiration from the infamous 1987 Opera House robbery, where a gang of impostors posed as CBI officers to execute daylight raids on wealthy targets. Alongside Akshay Kumar, the ensemble cast featuring Anupam Kher and Manoj Bajpayee drew widespread appreciation for their grounded performances. The movie is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
2. Baby: A Covert Counter-Terror Espionage Thriller
The 2015 release Baby brought a high-octane spy thriller experience to Indian audiences. In the film, Akshay Kumar portrays Ajay Singh Rajput, an elite undercover agent operating inside a counter-intelligence unit. Across dangerous international locations, his team executes covert missions designed to stop imminent terror strikes on Indian soil. The film is currently available to watch on Disney+ Hotstar.
3. Airlift: The Heroic 1990 Kuwait Evacuation Saga
Directed by Raja Krishna Menon, Airlift hit theaters in 2016 and dramatised the world's largest civilian evacuation during the 1990 Kuwait-Iraq war. Akshay Kumar played the role of influential businessman Ranjit Katyal, who took it upon himself to protect and safely evacuate 1,70,000 stranded Indians back to their homeland. Audiences can stream this survival drama on YouTube and JioCinema.
4. OMG Oh My God: A Sharp Satire on Blind Faith
Directed by Umesh Shukla and released in 2012, OMG Oh My God offered an intelligent social satire questioning organized religion and superstition. Paresh Rawal delivered an unforgettable performance as Kanji Lalji Mehta, an atheist antique dealer who takes God to court after an earthquake wrecks his uninsured shop. Akshay Kumar played a contemporary, bike-riding avatar of Lord Krishna. Viewers can watch this drama on Netflix and JioCinema.
5. Toilet: Ek Prem Katha: Championing Sanitation Through Cinema
Helmed by director Shree Narayan Singh, the 2017 release Toilet: Ek Prem Katha tackled the grave issue of open defecation and sanitation infrastructure in rural India. Framed as a social comedy-drama, the film starred Akshay Kumar alongside Bhumi Pednekar and successfully drove home a vital civic message while keeping viewers engaged. The movie is accessible on ZEE5 and Netflix.
