Akshaye "signs" Bhaagte Raho?

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For the first time in his career Akshaye Khanna will be seen in a double role. He has been signed for a comedy, Bhagte Raho to be jointly produced by Suneil Shetty’s Popkorn Entertainment and producer, Vedprakash. The film to be directed by ad man, Pradeep Chak will also have Akshaye’s cousin, Karan Khanna along with him.

A Bollywood source informs, “Akshaye Khanna, who has mostly featured in intense roles despite being a part of comic hits like Hungama and Hulchul, is now once again gearing up to do a comedy that features him in a dual role. He will be acting with cousin brother Karan Khanna (Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd) for the first time too.”

The out and out comedy that’s basically character driven revolves around misunderstandings between couples and how one thing leading to another ends up creating chaos and confusion amongst its principle characters.

“Akshaye’s Salaam-E-Ishq and Shaadi Se Pehle co-star Ayesha Takia is being considered to be paired opposite him and the makers are deciding between choosing either Urvashi Sharma (Naqaab) or Soha Ali Khan for Karan. Suneil too shall be seen enacting a hilarious character in the film,” adds the source.

While Suneil Shetty refused to comment and told us to wait for the official announcement, Karan Khanna - who had debuted with Mallika Sherawat in Bach Ke Rehna Re Baba - states, “Yes the offer has come for Bhagte Raho but I am yet to sign the film. The talks are on.”

Shabbir Boxwala, from Popkorn Entertainment says, “Akshaye has heard the script. That is all I can reveal.”

Akshaye is presently lying low at the box office with five flops (Shaadi Se Pehle, Aap Ki Khatir, Salaam-E-Ishq, Naqaab and Gandhi, My Father) in a row in the last few months. His close associates have advised him to concentrate more on his comic roles which have always fetched him a good response. Just a week back, he began shooting for another comedy, Shortkut - The Con Is On for actor turned producer Anil Kapoor with whom he did Gandhi, My Father.


OK. It now uses the word "signed", which probably means Akshaye is doing it. I don't like the tone of the article which is rather dismissive of him but it puts the spotlight on Akshaye and not on the sidekick like the Filmfare's article below.


I don't know, of course, how much role Karan ends up having in the movie. Still, I wonder: Every time a sidekick stars with AK, he goes to the press saying it's his movie.Think Dino Morea and Aap Ki Khatir. Is it because of Akshaye's cool guy reputation that these people take so much advantage ? I did not see Sharman Joshi or Kunal Kapoor trying to make Rang De basanti their movie