By Subhash K Jha

Mumbai, Dec 16 (IANS) Akshay Kumar, who will participate in the Olympic Torch Relay Thursday in Toronto, keeps telling himself not to drop the torch.

"I just keep telling myself one thing over and over again, 'No matter what happens, Akshay, don't drop that torch. Naak kat jayegi.' It'd be so embarrassing. I'd never be allowed to come back to Canada," Akshay told IANS before leaving for Toronto.

Akshay was busy shooting for Priyadarshan's "Khatta Meetha" and had to take permission from him to attend the gala event.

"I had to ask my director for a few days off from his tight schedule of 'Khatta Meetha'. He kindly agreed. Now I'm very very excited to be part of something as prestigious as the Olympics. I just feel the whole experience will be truly inspiring. I think this is one of the biggest happenings in my life," he said.

Akshay worked round the clock to beat the deadline for his departure.

"Only when I go home in the night do I allow myself the luxury of feeling tired. On 17th I run with the torch. Then I return to Canada again to see some of the Olympics sports. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

But the actor has one regret before he left that his son Aarav couldn't accompany him.

"It was just for a day. And I somehow managed to squeeze it into my schedule. For Aarav, it'd be too tiring. If I was going for at least five-six days, I'd have taken my wife (Twinkle Khanna) and son."

The torch for the 2010 Winter Olympics will be in Toronto from Dec 17 to 19. The 2010 Winter Games shall be held at Vancouver Feb 12-28