Abbas-Mustan on their films, Akshaye

From Indiafm.com:

Abbas-Mustan are miffed with rumours that their latest thriller Naqaab is similar to their 2002 release Humraaz. Mustan defends, “Naqaab is a romantic thriller and does not have any similarity with Humraaz as is being speculated. It has it’s on own mystery which we have tried to solve through three prominent characters. Bobby Deol and Akshaye Khanna are in prominent roles and since WE are directing this movie people have this feeling that Humraaz and Naqaab are same. But once these three characters will be revealed onscreen, you will know what is happening, why is it happening and for what is it happening? Naqaab has shaped up totally different from Humraaz.”

The director-duo has already started working on their next film Race which happens to be their most star-studded film so far featuring Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif, Sameera Reddy and Anil Kapoor in lead roles. The other brother from the director duo reveals, “Race was supposed to start in January but before that Ramesh Taurani offered us Naqaab. Akshay had already committed for this project and since it was a romantic thriller Mr. Taurani wanted us to work on it. We liked the subject and decided to work on it. We had already worked with Bobby Deol and Akshaye Khanna during Humraaz and we get along well. Besides, they could manage the dates easily. We would have opted for Amisha in Naqaab but then it would have looked like Humraaz sequel. We wanted someone who didn’t have any particular image as such and whom people won’t anticipate in that role. I remember during Gupt, Kajol didn’t have any negative image but she did pull off that character so well.”

During Gupt Kajol didn’t have any negative image but she did pull off that character so well.
Speaking about their favorite actors Akshaye Khanna and Bobby Deol, Mustan says, “Our last film with Bobby was Humraaz, before that we worked in Soldier and Ajnabee and both the films were hits. I think Bobby has turned out to be good performer.” Mustan has all praise for Akshaye Khanna. He states “Akshaye is very good actor. He is playing an important role in our forthcoming film Race. This will be his fourth film with us. We have worked together and shared a good rapport with him therefore we know which role will suit him. He gives his best to every character that he plays. He is all rounder and we know he is very talented to pull off any kind of role.” Urvashi came into the picture when we were looking for a new girl and Mr. Taurani told us that he knew this girl. We met Urvashi and after talking to her we realized that she has the potential. She is a good artist.”

Abbas-Mustan’s last release 36 China Town failed on Box Office. So what went wrong with that film? “Many people blamed the climax of the film saying they didn’t like the humorous end. But we had come up with ten endings for 36 China Town before we came up with a humorous ending like this. Though audiences were disappointed by the humorous climax of 36 China Town, Naqaab will not disappoint them for sure” he quips.

Oh, that was a humurous ending. Guess we didn't know that!