Kushagra Tiwari, Mumbai: A 35-year-old youth from Rajkot is camping in Mumbai for the last month to meet his favourite Hindi film actor, Akshay Kumar. Ashok Kanjariya from the Ghanteshwar area of Rajkot walked barefoot for 700 km between Rajkot and Mumbai to meet his idol, Akshay Kumar. Ashok hasn’t been able to meet Akshay Kumar yet. As he has taken a pledge to meet the actor, his return to Rajkot is in limbo.

Ashok started his barefoot walk to Mumbai on February 17, 2026, and reached Mumbai after 17 days on March 6, 2026. Despite having arrived a month ago, he has not been able to meet Akshay Kumar. He continues to wait outside the actor’s residence in Juhu as of April 6, 2026, refusing to return home until his dream is realised.

Speaking to DeshGujarat, Ashok said that he works as a Rapido rider in Rajkot to support his family, which includes his wife and two young sons, aged seven and three. Despite the long separation, he noted that his family supports his mission, believing that “one day he will meet his hero.”

Explaining the idea behind his journey, Ashok said, “I have been a fan of Akshay Kumar. His films are an inspiration for me. For a long time, I wanted to meet him someday, and then I decided to undertake this journey to fulfill my wish.”

However, what is most striking about this journey is that Ashok walked barefoot. When asked about the reason, he said, “I had made a vow (badha) to God, and I will wear slippers only when it is fulfilled.” He claimed that he has been living barefoot for over a year now and added, “If I meet Akshay Kumar sir and he listens to my wish and fulfills it, then I will happily wear footwear.”

A 700-km Barefoot Walk

The 700-kilometre walk took a significant toll on his body. During the journey, Ashok experienced severe pain and swelling in his feet. At one point, while in Borsad in Anand district of Gujarat, he resorted to massaging his feet with hot water and salt for relief.

Sharing details of his journey, Ashok said that during his travel from Gujarat to Maharashtra, he was supported by the public. Hotels and roadside eateries provided him with food and accommodation free of cost at several places.

During the journey, people also made reels with him to show their support. One hotel owner who encountered Ashok even recorded a video urging others to help him, appealing to private institutions and hotels to provide him with food and shelter on his way to Mumbai.

Camping in Mumbai

Now, as a month has passed since Ashok reached Mumbai, his resolve is being tested by the city. While waiting to meet his idol, Ashok’s daily routine reflects simple devotion. He spends his days near the actor’s bungalow, often standing by the roadside in the hope of catching a glimpse.

For meals, he visits the ISKCON Temple (Hare Rama Hare Krishna) daily to receive prasad. Ashok also noted that while he spent very little during his journey due to public support, his expenses in Mumbai have already reached approximately ₹13,000–14,000.

Ashok said, “I go to Akshay sir’s bungalow every day and try to meet him, but the security guards remove me after a few minutes, saying that other people also live there and object to it. Sometimes I even cry in front of them, requesting them to pass my message to Akshay sir so that he meets me, but they remove me after some time.”

He further said that the actor’s personal security has warned him not to come repeatedly, or they would call the authorities and send him back to Gujarat. However, Ashok remains undeterred.

“I am not going to give up. I will stay until I meet him,” he said.

He also shared that he tries to get noticed by standing on the roadside with the tricolour in his hand, hoping that one day Akshay Kumar will see it and stop his car to meet him.

When asked about his stay, Ashok said that accommodation costs around ₹500–600 per night. As a result, he has often been sleeping either on Juhu Beach near the actor’s residence or at railway stations.

Digital Attempts

As Ashok continues to wait, a few individuals have joined him in efforts to help him reach Akshay Kumar. One such person, Durgesh Devasi, has been filming videos and sharing them on social media to attract the attention of the actor’s team.

Ashok’s young son has also appeared in videos, pleading, “Please Akshay Kumar sir, meet my papa. Thank you.”

As days turn into weeks, Ashok remains outside the apartment, trusting in God and the power of social media to eventually bring him face-to-face with the man he has walked 700 kilometres to meet.

Admiration for Akshay Kumar

Ashok’s love for the actor is rooted in his admiration for films such as Hera Pheri, Garam Masala, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, and Kesari, which are among his long list of favourites.

On another front, although Ashok has not yet been able to meet Akshay Kumar, he has managed to meet and interact with several others, including Sonu Sood, veteran actor Shakti Kapoor, and Sooraj Pancholi. DeshGujarat