Akshay Kumar Downplays Tom Cruise Comparisons, Credits Tom & Jerry for Stunt Ideas

Akshay Kumar Reveals His Real Stunt Inspiration — Not Tom Cruise, But Tom & Jerry.

Action superstar Akshay Kumar has shut down comparisons with Hollywood icon Tom Cruise, saying his real inspiration for daring stunts actually comes from an unlikely source: Tom & Jerry.

In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, the Khiladi actor was asked about a viral stunt from his 2000 film Khiladi 420, where he’s seen clinging to a flying plane—similar to a sequence from Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning. But Akshay was quick to dismiss the comparison with Cruise.

“You know where I draw all this inspiration from? You won’t believe it — from Tom & Jerry,” he said with a grin. Calling the cartoon “the most violent thing,” Akshay explained how it shaped his action scenes:

“It’s made for kids, but if you watch closely, it’s packed with action. I remember Tom hanging from a helicopter to grab Jerry — I did that in Sabse Bada Khiladi. There’s also Tom hanging from a plane, just like in Khiladi 420.” He even joked that a stunt on Khatron Ke Khiladi—where he lay in a hammock under a plane—was borrowed from a scene where Tom and Jerry sip wine mid-air.

“It’s so violent. Please understand — you’re showing your kids a very violent show!” he laughed. While fans may debate who did the plane stunt better, Akshay Kumar’s answer proves one thing: cartoon logic can make for blockbuster action.