20 years of Ek Rishtaa: Feel deeply indebted to the audience, says Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar has gone into nostalgia mode thinking about his film Ek Rishtaa: The Bond Of Love (2001), which completed 20 years today.

Directed by Suneel Darshan, the film saw Akshay Kumar play Amitabh Bachchan’s son. It also starred Karisma Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Mohnish Bahl, Rakhee and Alok Nath. 

“Some memories fade with time but Ek Rishtaa is truly a nostalgic experience as it explored a relationship that I bonded with so deeply and the delight of being cast with Mr Bachchan added to my excitement," Akshay said in a statement. "I feel deeply indebted to the audience for their continued appreciation of the movie.”

Ek Rishtaa tells the story of industrialist Vijay Kapoor (Bachchan). One of his four sons, Ajay (Akshay), falls out with the father after he decides to start his own business and leaves home. Following this, Vijay loses his business empire after a fraud committed by his son-in-law Rajesh (Bahl). How Vijay and Ajay resolve their differences and regain their business is the rest of the story.

On the film completing two decades, Suneel Darshan said, “We commenced our fruitful association with Jaanwar (1999), which was Akshay’s first success after a string of over a dozen disappointments. Then with Ek Rishtaa he went notches higher to be pitted against Amitabh Bachchan and carried off the role with conviction.”

Akshay Kumar and Suneel Darshan did a series of films after this. “These movies were followed by Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya (2002), Andaaz (2003), Talaash: The Hunt Begins (2003), Mere Jeevan Saathi (2006) and Dosti: Friends Forever (2005),” the filmmaker said.