Akshay takes a dig at SRK once again

Akshay is a smart khiladi and he never losses any opportunity to make a dig at SRK.

Yesterday at the Film Producers Guild Apsara Awards function in Mumbai, the Khiladi played his game and smartly made a dig at Shah Rukh when he was invited to present the award of Lifetime Achievement to the Bachchan senior.

Aksahy said, “Sir(Mr. Bachchan) is a legend and he still inspires other actors and makers to make remake of his films and act in them”.

Shahrukh was present at the event where he performed and also walked with the best actor trophy for ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’.

Obviously, Akshay was referring to Don sequel Don 2. According to sources it was the remake of ‘Don’ by Farhan Akhtar that sowed the first seeds of difference between SRK and Amitabh Bachchan who previously where on very good terms.

The prankster Akshay who is known for his mischievous behaviors in sets with his co-stars knows very well that he single-handedly can’t tackle the Khans as they are three of them, so he smartly takes the cover of Bachchan make him his dhall (read shield) and go Scot free as any reaction by SRK will be taken as an attack on Big B and Akshay can laugh at his attempt of adding more fuel to the fire.

Well, instead of sorting out the differences between the two icons of the Indian film industry, Akshay is more interested in making pranks and helping in stretching the gap between the two.

Anyways the news that Khiladi Kumar has made some dent in SRK’s camp and is doing 2 films for Farah is not entirely true. It’s a fact that Akshay will be doing another film with Farah to be produced by her husband, but the truth is Farah who is a strong supporter of SRK is directing ‘Tees Mar Khan’ only to support his husband Kunder who needs a standing after the mega flop ‘Jaan-e-man’ starring Akshay and Salman. Akshay and Farah’s hubby Shirish Kunder are good friends and hence Akshay has said yes to ‘Tees Mar Khan’ and Farah didn’t approach Akshay for the role.

She did approach SRK who agreed on the condition that Farah will direct the film under his banner. Things didn’t materialize and hence Farah who is married and has triplets

Wanted to support her husband and hence agreed to direct ‘Tees Mar Khan’ starring Akshay.

Akshay can continue to take digs at SRK and fill the gossips pages next day but the truth that he was not the first choice of ‘Tees Mar Khan’ and he got the film when SRK said 'no' will always remain the truth.

Shooting Kareena 'topless' in Kurbaan

The promos of Saif Ali Khan's film with girlfriend Kareena Kapoor -- Kurbaan -- are out, and it's getting a lot of attention. The music is riding up the charts, and it looks like producer Karan Johar may have a winner on his hands.

The man helming the film is Rensil D'Silva. This may be his first directorial venture but Rensil is not new to the field. An ad man with about 18 years of experience, Rensil has also scripted films like Aks, Rang De Basanti and Mani Ratnam's upcoming film Raavan.

When we asked Rensil why it took him so long to finally direct a film, he said he was 'waiting for the right time.' Well, it looks like the right time has arrived.

Rensil talks to Nithya Ramani about what to expect in Kurbaan and even the much-talked about poster showing a topless Kareena.

You have written the script of Kurbaan as well.

Yes. It is Karan Johar's story. He told me about the film and for the next few months, I couldn't get it off my head. A common friend told Karan that I had loved the story, so he asked me to direct it.


Image: Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan and Rensil D Silva

There are no problems with Sanjay Dutt: Akshay Kumar

Mumbai, Oct 16 (IANS) Akshay Kumar is tired of replying to queries about his so-called rivalry with 'Blue' co-star Sanjay Dutt. Setting the record straight, he says this is a figment of someone's imagination and they don't have any problems whatsoever with each other.

'Please, in this forum, let me state this for perhaps the last time ever - 'There are no problems between Sanjay Dutt and me,' Akshay told IANS.

Since the shooting of 'Blue' commenced around a year ago, there was talk of tension between the two stars.

'Yeh sab bekaar ki baatein hain (all this is ridiculous talk). People can imagine something and start writing about anything that comes to their mind. We live in times when such unnecessary gossip makes headlines.

'In fact, I went for 'Mata Ki Chowki' (prayer function) at his place. Would I have done that had there been any problems between us?' asked the actor who is currently shooting for 'Houseful'.

Akshay and Sanjay haven't worked in a film together for a long time. Their last release was director Raj N. Sippy's 'Amaanat', which had incidentally released Oct 14 in 1994. Now, after exactly 15 years, the two actors are seen again in 'Blue'.

What took them so much time to patch up?

'What patch up?' asked Akshay in an exasperated tone. 'Rani Mukerji has been around for 13 years. Her first film was 'Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat' (1996). Still, both of us have never worked together. Does it mean that we were having a rivalry of sorts and hence would require some kind of patch-up to prove to the world that everything is fine between us?'

He is also happy to declare that Sanjay is the hero of the film and he is the villain.

I want Kaminey and Kambakkht Ishq to do well: Akshay

Akshay Kumar speaks about flops, 'Kambakkht Ishq', and more!

Q. 'Chandni Chowk To China' and '8X10 Tasveer' didn't work at the box office. How did you cope with such situation?

This kind of flip-flop does happen in the industry so it's ok; one can't take such things to heart. Some films work and some do not. It doesn't mean that you hold anything in particular against something or someone. You have to move on.

Q. But both 'Chandni Chowk To China' as well as '8X10 Tasveer', did get hammered quite strongly by most?

Haan, critics ne kaafi bura-bhala kaha tha in filmon ke liye (yes critics did come quite strongly on both the films). Still, I won't say that 'Chandni Chowk To China' was a bad film. Even in '8X10 Tasveer' I took a risk. But then you know how artistic films are treated in India, especially when they come out of Bollywood! Such films have small audience and one has to keep that in mind as well.

Q. Regarding 'Chandni Chowk To China', till the release of New 'York', it was the only film that took some reasonable opening at least.

I didn't intend to speak about it but since you have brought it out, let me state that box office has its own story to tell. It has seen highest collections so far and though it was certainly less than what all of us were expecting, it has still been far better than any of the other releases in the year. However, people did write so much negative about it that it couldn't go beyond a point at the box office.

Q. You must be quite positive about 'Kambakkht Ishq' though.

Well, yes indeed. I really-really hope that the film works. It has been such an extended period of draught over last six months. Entertainment has just come down and it's high time that people go back to theaters for their staple diet of movies. Over last so many months, there was so much recession, so many problems that a common man could not dream of going to theaters. People were not getting their salaries, they were loosing their jobs. In such a situation, things only turn worse for film business.

Q. You believe that situation has improved now?

Very much so because honestly I had thought that the bad run would continue for an even longer period. I am just not talking about movie business but economy in general. Of what I collect from the market scenario, the situation has improved tremendously over last couple of months or so. There is a certain stability that has come in. We have a stable government, the stock market has gone up again and I see similar positive trend for Bollywood as well. Things are much better now. Itne waqt andhere ke baad ab jaise waapas savera aa raha hai (after an extended period of darkness, there is finally some light)!

Q. Isn't it ironical that the media is now saying that you will get audiences back with 'Kambakkth Ishq'?

When they say like that then it only feels good. You want to be a part of something that works for the industry, works for the audience, works for the producer, and works for yourself. If my 'Kambakkht Ishq' can improve the industry situation then I can only be proud and happy about that. But honestly, I want all films releasing this season to work. There are these biggies like 'New York', 'Love Aaj Kal' and 'Kaminey' coming one after another around my film and I want all of them to work.

Q. One doesn't find an actor saying this too often when so much is stake for his own film.

But then there is so much at stake for all of us out here, isn't it? I hear that during the strike, around Rs. 300 crores have been lost. We have to have something running to compensate for the losses. Aisa hoga tabhi mandi mein paisa wapas aayega (only if this happens would there be some money inflow into the industry); films would be made, people will get work. These are all important films and I want all of them to do extremely well!