Mumbai, March 16, 2026: The latest episode of Wheel of Fortune India began on a soulful note as host Akshay Kumar made a memorable entrance while playing the Krishna flute. The soothing melody instantly created a calm and spiritual atmosphere in the studio. As a result, the evening began with warmth, emotion, and inspiration.
Soon after his entry, Akshay warmly welcomed the team of the Gujarati film Laalo to the stage. This moment, in turn, led to a heartfelt conversation about dreams, friendship, and perseverance.
Akshay Kumar Welcomes the Cast of Laalo
During the episode, Akshay introduced the film’s cast and crew. The team included actors Shruhad Goswami, Reeva Rachh, and Karan Joshi, along with director Ankit Sakhiya.
While interacting with the audience, Akshay shared the inspiring story behind the film. He explained how three friends decided to make a movie despite having almost no money. However, instead of giving up, they relied on their determination and strong belief in each other.
Moreover, Akshay revealed that the team borrowed a camera from a friend and convinced two friends to act in the film. To reduce expenses, they also shot the entire movie at a single location. Despite these limitations, their dedication eventually paid off.
According to Akshay, the film later became one of the biggest blockbusters in the Gujarati film industry. In fact, the movie reportedly crossed ₹100 crore at the box office even though it was made on a modest budget of just ₹48 lakh.
The Struggles After the Film’s Release
However, the journey was far from easy. Later in the conversation, Akshay asked director Ankit Sakhiya to talk about the difficult early days after the film’s release.
Ankit revealed that the movie initially struggled at the box office. In fact, theatres were close to removing the film within two to three weeks due to low attendance.
Nevertheless, Ankit and his team refused to lose hope. Instead, they decided to visit theatres every morning where the film was being screened. During these visits, they interacted directly with viewers and asked them for honest feedback.
According to Ankit, the reactions from audiences were extremely positive. Many viewers were emotionally moved by the story, and some even had tears in their eyes. Yet, despite these reactions, the theatres remained largely empty.
A Unique Way to Promote the Film
At this point, Akshay revealed a surprising detail about Ankit’s dedication.
He shared that the director used his remaining money to buy tickets for people and encouraged them to watch the film. In return, he simply requested that if they liked the movie, they should recommend it to their friends.
Gradually, this bold step began to work. Word-of-mouth publicity started spreading, and eventually, the film gained the attention it deserved. As a result, the movie went on to become a major success.
Akshay Kumar Shares an Emotional Memory of His Father
The conversation soon took an emotional turn when Akshay shared a deeply personal memory from his early career.
He recalled how his father supported him wholeheartedly during the beginning of his journey in the film industry. According to Akshay, whenever one of his films released, his father would personally take people to theatres and encourage them to watch it.
Akshay also revealed that before his father passed away in 2000, he had watched each of his films nearly 18 to 20 times. While it was a father’s unconditional love in his case, Akshay noted that Ankit Sakhiya’s dedication to his film reflected the same level of passion and belief.
Friendship and Determination Behind the Film’s Success
Later in the discussion, Akshay asked Ankit about the biggest lesson he learned from this challenging journey.
Reflecting on the experience, Ankit said the journey taught him one important thing: if you truly want to achieve something, you must step forward and take risks.
Furthermore, he revealed that the film was completed in just 40 days. Interestingly, around 15 producers supported the project, many of whom were his college friends. Whenever the team ran out of funds, these friends contributed their personal savings to keep the film going.
Akshay appreciated this beautiful spirit of friendship and teamwork. In fact, Ankit concluded by saying that the film itself is a tribute to friendship, which makes its real-life journey even more meaningful.
A Powerful Message of Passion and Perseverance
In the end, the conversation concluded on an inspiring note. Akshay Kumar praised the team’s determination, friendship, and unwavering belief in their dream.
Ultimately, their story serves as a powerful reminder that passion, teamwork, and perseverance can transform even the smallest beginnings into extraordinary success stories.
You can watch Wheel of Fortune India Monday to Friday at 9:00 PM on Sony Entertainment Television India and stream it on SonyLIV.
