Actor Akshay Kumar has often spoken about discipline, simplicity and the importance of maintaining a balanced life. During a conversation with Sonal Kalra on The Right Angle, Kumar opened up about four principles that he said have remained important to him through different stages of his life. He summed them up as four words beginning with the letter S: Sukh, Shanti, Seva and Sehat. For Kumar, these four principles are not simply words but ideas that have influenced the way he looks at happiness, peace, service and health. While speaking about them, he also recalled his childhood and the period when his family had limited financial resources but, according to him, still had plenty of happiness.
‘Sukh’ or finding happiness in what you have
The first S Kumar spoke about was Sukh, which means happiness or contentment. He explained that happiness does not necessarily come from having a large house, plenty of money or material comforts. “Humesha sukhi raho,” Kumar said, sharing the first lesson he follows. He then recalled his childhood and the circumstances in which his family lived. “Jab humare parivaar ke paas paise nahi the, jab humare paas ek chhota sa ghar tha jiske andar hum 4 log rehte the, lekin humare paas sukh bahut tha,” he said. Kumar’s recollection highlights the difference between having material wealth and experiencing happiness. For him, the size of the house or the amount of money his family had did not determine whether they were happy. Instead, he remembered having a strong sense of contentment despite living with limited means. His message was simple: happiness should not always be measured by what a person owns.
‘Shanti’ and ‘Seva’ as ways of living
The second S Kumar highlighted was Shanti, or peace. He said that whatever a person chooses to do in life, it should be done calmly. “Zindagi mein jo bhi kaam karo shanti se karo,” he said. For Kumar, maintaining peace is an important part of navigating life. His advice suggests that success or achievement should not come at the cost of constantly living with stress, anger or conflict. The third S was Seva, or service. Kumar placed particular importance on helping others and contributing in whatever way one can. “Jitni seva kar sakte ho karni chahiye aadmi ko,” he said.He then shared a saying that he strongly believes in: “Ek bahut achhi kahawat hai, jab tak aap seva karoge tab tak aap zinda ho. Jis din seva karne ka mann hat jayega, uske baad mar jana hi behtar hai.” Kumar’s words reflect his belief that serving others gives life a sense of purpose. Seva, in his view, is not necessarily about doing something extraordinary. It can be about helping people whenever and however one is capable of doing so. Together, Sukh, Shanti and Seva form a philosophy centred on contentment, inner calm and responsibility towards others.
‘Sehat’ is the fourth S Kumar considers essential
The fourth and final S Kumar spoke about was Sehat, or health. He said that people often fail to give their health the importance it deserves, despite it being fundamental to everything else in life. “Sehat ko bahut log emphasis nahi karte. Sehat sabse badi cheez hai aapki zindagi mein,” he said. For Kumar, health is not something that should be pushed aside while pursuing professional or personal goals. Without good health, other achievements can lose their meaning, making it important for people to pay attention to their physical well-being.By bringing together Sukh, Shanti, Seva and Sehat, Kumar described four principles that go beyond his career in films. They represent happiness, peace of mind, service to others and the importance of taking care of oneself. “These are the 4 S’s I follow: Sukh, Shanti, Seva and Sehat,” Kumar said. His four S’s offer a simple framework for life: remain happy with what you have, approach your work with peace, help others whenever possible and never take your health for granted. For Kumar, these principles appear to be less about achieving a perfect life and more about finding meaning in the way one chooses to live it.
