/> The last thing you expect Akshay Kumar to is to be the life and breath of a party. He shocked his friends by being a lot more at the wrap-up party of Housefull in London on August 25.

Everyone who knows Akshay Kumar knows he's extremely wary of socializing and partying. At least that's how he used to be. Even at his own party for Kambhakkt Ishq two months ago Akshay let his friends have fun. He stood in a corner smiling with a glass of juice in his hand.

The juice hasn't changed. Akshay still remains a teetolar. But the man who would stand with a frozen smile on his face at parties has turned into quite an outgoing party animal in London thanks to Arjun Rampal. The two were shooting together for Housefull.

And Arjun would try to drag Akshay to pubs and clubs almost every night.

Says a source, "Arjun really brought the partying side of Akshay out in the open. They would go out for a boys' night whenever their respective families were not in London."

In fact the two pals planned to visit Arjun's close friend Shah Rukh Khan.

Says the source, "Akshay and Arjun's hotel was quite close to Shah Rukh's new home in Hyde Park. And they planned to visit Shah Rukh. But before they could do so, Shah Rukh returned to Mumbai."

Arjun too left London. But left Akshay and his new demonstrative fun side behind.

Last week the unit of Sajid Nadiadwala's Housefull saw a side to Akshay Kumar at the wrap-up party at the Cumberland Hotel that they had never seen before.

Akshay actually took the floor and belted out Jee karda from Singh Is Kinng at the party.

The gathering was shell-shocked. Akshay is not one to attend parties least of all sing and dance at them. Even at his own parties Akshay likes to keep a very low profile.

Says a guest at the party, "It was most unexpected. First Riteish Deshmukh and Akshay took to the floors singing and dancing to a song called I am a loser from Housefull. And then when the deejay started playing Jee karda Akshay took the mike and sang and danced to it."

The one person who's the happiest about the new fun -filled festive outgoing Akshay is his wife Twinkle. For years she has been complaing about how staid he tends to be in crowds.