Film is in his blood.

It's no wonder that Akash ' son of Bhojpuri star Kunal Singh and Bengali actress Arati Bhattacharya ' has moved into films and bagged a lead role in the first chance. His debut film, Bloody Ishq, an action-thriller, releases next month.

"I am quite inspired by my father as I always wanted to become an actor. My father has already made his own identity in the Bhojpuri film industry and I am nowhere near him. However, I would certainly like to make a mark in the Bollywood," Akash, a graduate from MMK College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai, said.

Akash, 26, did not go to any acting school to learn the art but owes everything to his father, who has acted in at least 116 Bhojpuri films. "I have grown up seeing the acting of my father and mother. They are my gurus and they are the one who have inspired me to enter in the field of acting," said Akash. His mother, Arati, was seen in Satyajit Ray's masterpiece, Jana Aranya (The Middleman), besides several other Bengali films. "But I have learnt steps from action director Tinu Verma and dance from Raju Khan, son of veteran choreographer Saroj Khan," said Akash, an alumnus of New Era High School in Panchgani, Maharashtra.

About the film directed by Arup Dutta, Akash ' paired with Shilpa Anand of Iqraar By Chance (2006) fame ' said: "I am playing the role of one Nirvan Shroff, an unpredictable boy, in the 2.15-hour film." It was shot mostly in Thailand and parts in Mumbai.

About his Bihar origin, the youngster said: "It's not a matter of Bihar or Bengal or any regional identity. I think an actor is known by his skills on screen and talent, which is beyond any identity of community. The one important thing which I learnt from my father is that to be a good actor, one has to be a good human being first."

What does Kunal say weeks before the silver screen debut of his son? "It is a proud moment for every person of Bihar. I am delighted to say that he has finally completed the shooting. I have never intervened in his personal life except providing him with good upbringing and cultural ethos. I know he has to struggle a lot to achieve his dreams but this is what every actor has to do."

Akash can only keep his fingers crossed before the big Friday in February.