Aaj (transl. Today) is a 1987 Indian Hindi-language film, directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by Kuljeet Pal. It stars Raj Babbar, Smita Patil, Kumar Gaurav, Marc Zuber, Anamika Pal and a then unknown Akshay Kumar in a small role. The film featured songs written by the Hindi poets Sudarshan Faakir and Madan Pal. Akshay Kumar made his first on screen appearance in the film under his birth name 'Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia', in a small role as a Karate Instructor. Kumar further stated that he later chose his official stage name Akshay Kumar, after actor Kumar Gaurav's character name in this film.