Monday, March 31, 2008

MBPA sold

PVR has acquired the India theatrical rights of Shemaroo Entertainment's Mere Baap Pehle Aap. The film stars Akshaye Khanna and Genelia D'souza. It is directed by Priyadarshan.

Shemaroo Entertainment director Hiren Gada says, "The post production of the film is on in full swing now. We are tentatively planning to release Mere Baap Pehle Aap on 6 June. Depending on the IPL cricket match, the release of other films may be rescheduled; therefore we will finalize the exact date in a few days."

The other cast includes Paresh Rawal, Om Puri, Shobhna, Archana Puran Singh and Rajpal Yadav. The film has been shot in Goa, Kerala, and Chennai.

Mere Baap Pehle Aap is a comedy. It is Akshaye Khanna and Priyadarshan's third film together, the other two being Hungama and Hulchul.

(Business of Cinema)

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Just a point

Hey, somebody said I shouldn't be posting negative reviews about Akshaye on my blog. The thing is he always be my favorite star regardless of an individual movie/performance. So, when I say something critical about Akshoo's performance, I'm not being negative. I just want him to be the very best and I judge him quite strictly. I never enjoy the first time I see an AKshaye movie. I am so focused on his performance and always looking for flaws! It's like going to party for the first time in your life. I'm a nervous wreck. After that, I watch his movies without that pressure and I always enjoy watching him so much more. Hope it makes sense. I don't mean to be, I can't be negative towards him.

Akshaye with his new girlfriend



Her name is Reva.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Race gets second highest opening EVER!

Race has collected the second highest total ever of 35.60 crore nett (54.76 crore gross) in week One. The collections are extraordinary all over with circuits like Delhi/UP, Bihar and Mysore being phenomenal and setting new circuit highs. Rajasthan and Nizam also recorded near record collections.



The film has shown drops over the weekdays but the falls are not alarming and Race should have a healthy second week



The territorial breakdown is as follows


Race-Week One

Mumbai-14,50,73,230 from 311 cinemas

Delhi/UP-7,64,20,007 from 136 cinemas

East Punjab-2,51,00,711 from 55 cinemas

West Bengal-1,68,57,675 from 75 cinemas

Bihar-94,49,145 from 69 cinemas

CP Berar-1,24,29,405 from 80 cinemas

CI-84,45,906 from 37 cinemas

Rajasthan-1,55,41,935 from 46 cinemas

Nizam-2,06,19,654 from 45 cinemas

Mysore-1,78,78,573 from 31 cinemas

Other Territories-80,63,653 from 28 cinemas



TOTAL-35,60,77,022 from 915 cinemas.

(boxofficeindia)

That's the net figure. The Gross is upwards of 56 crores!

Bangkok calling

Actor Akshaye Khanna is busy shooting in Bangkok and hasn't been able to enjoy the reviews his thriller Race is garnering.

When we got in touch with him for an interview, he was shooting for Anil Kapoor's Shortcut , and first bombarded us with a number of questions!

What news about Race ? What feedback has it got? What has been the audiences' reaction? What was the expectation before the film? Has the film met expectations? And the interview got done...with him being the interviewer and us the interviewee!

(Indiatimes)

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Not metrosexual, but still cool

Akshaye Khanna has come out with a wee bit of a thanda performance in the Abbas-Mastan directed Race. After Gandhi My Father, there were more expectations from this quiet actor, who only explodes on screen with his powerhouse performances.

However, he did come out looking garam in other aspects. For instance, his chestful of hair was quite a sight for his female fan following. Considering that ‘metrosexual’ is the way to go now and with all our Bollywood hunks shaving off their chest hair, watching Akshaye’s thick mat of hair was quite a relief. Even the once hairy Anil Kapoor has turned over a new leaf and in Race, he sported a waxed look! So, any takers for the hairy Khanna boy?

(TOI)

Beth and Briyanshu, I'm waiting to hear from you guys.

Happy Birthday, Dear Akshaye

A nice write up on our fave star's bday:

Born on March 28, 1975 Akshaye Khanna inherited the acting skills of his father, Vinod Khanna. He made his debut alongside him in Himalaya Putra (1997), in which his real father played his reel father too. Akshaye may not be the current reigning star of tinsel town, but he has a carved a niche for himself.

Coming from a filmy background may have helped him get an entry into Bollywood but this actor has always dared to be different. Where majority of actors go on a signing spree after just one hit, Akshaye has always believed in going slowly and steadily.

Unlike other actors Akshaye does not make efforts to remain in headlines. He is known to be a very private person. His interviews are well spaced and he does not allow himself to be over-exposed. He is known for his reserved nature and does not open up easily.

Akshaye Khanna is different from his peers, which may sound like a cliché but is nevertheless true. Where other actors shout from the rooftops about their love affairs, Akshaye has never discussed his relationships. He has never even talked about his relationship with Tara Sharma.

From the lover boy of Himalaya Putra to the debouch of Race, Akshaye has come a long way. At the start of his career he may have been in awe of his father but later he established himself on his own. Starting his career at the young age of 22, Akshaye soon got noticed for his acting skills. But the movie that really got him recognition was Border, which also got him a Filmfare award.

Border was followed by some forgettable movies, which bombed at the Box Office. Akshaye was criticised for both his acting and his choice of movies.

A big movie that came his way was Subhash Ghai’s Taal in 1999. The movie became a runaway hit and Akshaye got rave reviews for his portrayal of a silent lover. The role suited his persona and Subhash Ghai exploited his vulnerable looks. But even after that Akshaye was never considered a bankable actor at the ticket window.

Akshaye’s career took a turn for the better in year 2001 when Javed Akhtar’s son Farhan Akhtar, who was also his childhood friend, directed him in Dil Chahta Hai (DCH). Like Taal, in Dil Chahta Hai too he played the role of a sensitive lover. He portrays a young man who falls in love with an older woman. Not only did Akshaye get critical acclaim for his role, he also bagged the Filmfare award for Best Supporting Actor that year.

DCH was followed by another hit and yet another power packed performance by Akshaye in Humraaz which released in 2002. This Abbas-Mastaan flick saw Akshaye essaying a negative role for the first time. Akshaye showed his real mettle in this movie and outshone his fellow actor Bobby Deol completely.

Akshaye then teamed up with his favourite director Priyadarshan- with whom he had also worked in Doli Saja ke Rakhna– in Hungama and Hulchul. Both laugh riots not only proved to be good entertainers but also big hits at the box office.

But his best performance came in a recent flick Gandhi My Father in which he played Mahatma Gandhi’s son Harilal. Directed by Feroz Abbas Khan, this movie won him not only accolades but also Best Performance Award at the Australian Indian Film Festival.

The future looks bright for him with some interesting projects in his kitty. Akshaye might just be the “dark horse” of year 2008.

Vital stats

Name: Akshaye Khanna
Height: 5'''9"
Hair: Black
Eyes: Black
Hobbies: Acting
Family: Father is Vinod Khanna, mother is Geetanjali (1st wife of Vinod) Step-mother Kavita, step-sister Sakshi Brother Rahul Khanna (VJ, Actor)

Memorable Roles:

Rajiv Singh in Race
Harilal Gandhi in Gandhi My Father
Akshaye Khanna in Bollywood Hollywood
Raj Goyal in Deewangee
Karan Malhotra in Humraaz
Siddharth Sinha in Dil Chahta Hai
Manav Mehta in Taal
Dharamvir in Border
Abhay in Himalaya Putra

(My News)

Excited about Race

In Gandhi, My Father, he struggled with the dilemmas of a son born to Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. Now Akshaye Khanna says he’s excited about Race, his first movie this year. Common to both characters that he has essayed is that they were alcoholics, but the similarity ends there. Rajeev Singh in Race is as unscrupulous as they can come.

While the dust settles over Race, Khanna is shooting in Bangkok for Neeraj Vora’s Shortcut, his second film for Anil Kapoor’s production house, missing out on all the buzz around the film—his fourth with Abbas Mustan. The movie, he says, was a breeze, courtesy his co-stars Saif Ali Khan and Anil Kapoor, all, to quote him, “wonderful actors and about the same age too”. Close friends, almost like family, is how he describes his rapport with the director duo Abbas Mustan, whose working style he says has remained the same over the years. “They are just fine within their space.”

Race is his first film this year; he’s following it up with Priyadarshan’s next (Mere Baap Pehle Aap) and Shortcut, towards the end of the year.

Ironically, while his launch vehicle—Himalayaputra, which took about two years to complete—followed what is now increasingly recognised as the old-school format, Khanna, along with Aamir Khan and Saif Ali Khan, was part of Dil Chahta Hai, which signalled the beginning of a new template of filmmaking.

Helmed by the young director Farhan Akhtar, who, as Khanna puts it, changed not only the way Hindi cinema was looked at but also altered mindsets within the industry. “It gave my career, which had been languishing for few years before that, a new lease of life.” DCH changed the way the industry perceived him and brought the South Mumbai star greater acceptability. He’s still not part of the crowd—he drives a small electric car (Reva) and does not fancy being hounded by the media.

The present bull run in the film industry caused by the advent of corporate houses flush with funds has given him, like his contemporaries, reason to be optimistic about the future. “I’d like to be doing both—a variety of roles and earning very well. Fortunately, the gap (between the mainstream and interesting cinema and actors) is getting bridged. I am in a happy space with films that I enjoy doing.”

Down the years, the industry has changed, he says. He hasn’t. “Earlier there was a stigma attached to being an actor. When my father decided to become an actor, his father said, ‘Are you going to be a prostitute?’

“That has changed in the last decade. People from good families are now keen to be a part of it in different ways and that’s certainly a good thing.”

(Express India)

Did this reporter read my post?Heh.
Back to back interview in different media outlets. MBPA rising in stakes. I think Race is relly really working for him.

Race doing wonders for Akshoo's career

As Race opened to great response all over and is now heading for Superhit or Blockbuster status the first beneficiary of the super business of Race is Shemaroo Entertainments Mere Baap Pehle Aap.

The not so hot Akshaye Khanna starrer has become hot property overnight with excellent terms being offered for the worldwide rights. There are four big buyers putting in bids for the rights including biggies like PVR and Pyramid Saimira. The film may well fetch over 25 crore while before Race the makers were probably looking for 15 crore.

Race stars Akshaye Khanna, Genelia D'Souza and Paresh Rawal and is directed by Priyadarshan. Mere Baap Pehle Aap is slated for a 23rd May release.

(Box Office India)

Hopefully, Priayn will deliver. Remember this is a solo hero project. If this takes off, there's nos topping Akshoo.

Akshaye cares for Saif

How did you like Saifoo?” Akshoo....I mean, Akshaye Khanna asked me about his co-star’s performance when I called him in Bangkok to say I liked his performance in his new film. So, is Akshaye Khanna really happy for Saifoo? I’d say he’s a rarity. Otherwise, no matter how hard actors and specially actresses pretend to like one another, they don’t.

From TOI's article on filmi rivalries.

People going crazy to watch Race

The craze of Race in Saurashtara (sub circuit of Mumbai circuit) had to be seen to be believed. Race was showing on one screen at Top 3 Multiplex in Bhavnagar but the rush of people was so much that the management had to open the film on a second screen which was full in 15 minutes flat and when the rest of the public refused to go home a third screen had to be opened. This screen also went full in minutes.

There were similar instances in other centres of the circuit like Rajkot and Jamnagar.

(Box Office India)

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Race, a super-duper hit

Race is a great success.



It got the HIGHEST 3-day opening EVER. 22 Crores in three days just in India!

Look at the comments thread. All the people are saying that it has catapulted Saif to Khan-lvel stardom (after last year's flops) and Anil too( after Black n White just a week before but God Forbid anyone should credit Akshaye with a hit even though he was the real hero of the movie whether you go by the terms of footage( Saif n Anil were just extended guest appearances) or by acting( Akshaye was bad in parts but still much better than the other two).People came to see the movie becos of the great marketing and not just Saif( there wasn't much of him anyway in the movie) and those who watched it liked it and there's good word of mouth becos of that (Akshaye's performance should be a big part of it) and that' why it's such a huge hit. I don't mean to say Akshaye by himself would have got all this by himself but they should at least give the poor guy some credit and not blank him out like that.

They are also planning a sequel. I'd love to see a scarred AK come back and be more evil.

This canard about Abbas-Mustan favoring Akshaye must be stopped. They offered the role to Fardeen and John and Humraaz came to AK after Abhishek n Arjun refused it. Can't blame Akshaye if was the third pick for the role and still does well.

BTW, a bit thank you to John and Fardeen.

Akshaye on Cloud Nine

Akshaye Khanna is on Cloud Nine and rightly so! His work in RACE has come in for tremendous appreciation and most importantly, its success at the box-office has only added to the excitement. Shooting for SHORTKUT in Bangkok, the actor confides in me that no one expected RACE to work in such a big way. “Of course, all of us were confident that it would work big time, but the numbers have caught everyone unawares,” he sounds elated.

Akshaye, who has worked with some of the biggest names in the business, now looks forward to working with Akshay Kumar some day. “Imagine the two of us in one movie,” he states, “And only two people can achieve the impossible -- Abbas-Mustan and Priyadarshan. In fact, they've been toying with the idea of casting us in a movie, but haven't found the right script yet.”

Akshaye now looks forward to his next release MERE BAAP PEHLE AAP, which brings Akshaye and Priyadarshan together after a gap of few years. “It's a fabulous film. In fact, I'd like to say that it's Priyan's best film so far,” he beams. Coming from someone whose name is synonymous with qualitative cinema, it only increases the expectations from this film.

(Indiafm)

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Race -- My Review

Finally saw Race. Though I knew most of the story and the climax by reading the reviews, many of the twists still caught me by surprise. I think that's the film's USP. The film doesn't impress in other departments.

Bipasha looked hot and acted well. Katrina and Sameera were disasters.

Saif looked good in the stills but was wooden in the movie. He deosn't have a single good scene. Anil couldn't pull of his comic role.

Rediff is right. Akshaye has the lead role in the movie.

Surprisingly, I thought Akshaye looked good in the first half when he was a bit chubby. That suited the role of the alcoholic he was playing. When he lost weight in the second half, his hairpiece didn't suit him anymore and that spoilt his look.

The problem with Akshaye's role is everything about the character is revealed within the first half hour. From then on, all the surprises belong to other characters and Rajeev moves from one situation to another never taking control.

Akshaye was really good in the first bit. Once we knew his plans and he got into this territory when he was simultaneously shouting at Saif and playacting for us the audience, Akshaye missed the cue really badly. The "suicide" scene is the worst scene of his career. Fortunately, he recovers in the second half but from then on his role is just passive and petulant. It doesn't help that Rajeev makes some really stupid blunders.

On the whole, I think Akshaye was plain bad in the latter part of the first half. He overacted there and couldn't pull of the dissimulation bit but he as quite fine in rest of the movie.

His dancing just got goofier and his wardrobe worse, if that's possible.

It's clear he'd worked out hard for the shirtless scene. He was awesome. He should stop being lazy and work out all the year round, not just for one occasional scene.

He had some nice chemistry with both Bips n Kat; he had some great sleazy hot scenes with his ladies, first time ever. He's gettin there. A great kiss scene in you next one, Akshoo? Wish there'd been a hot song for him and Kat though.

Though it an awful piece of dialog, it was so delightfully corny to hear him scream "Come to Daddy" to Kat. I think that's the part I enjoyed most in the movie!

All in all, I think he was much better in other Abbas-Mustan movies, performance wise. But Race is a hit; it's the first time he's worked out n stopped being shy on screen, he's got the lead role sure to be relished by the audience n the critics, so that's not quite bad in the end.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Akshaye homesick

Contrary to rumours, Akshaye Khanna isn't unhappy with his role nor the promos in Abbas-Mustan's Race. "Where do these things start from?" Akshaye laughs heartily. "I've been in Bangkok for almost a month now shooting for my friend Anil Kapoor's Shortcut. We're going to be in Bangkok until April 20. This is the last schedule. We'll finish the film and return. So, where was the time to come home for Race? I really enjoy working with Saif. He's 24-hour entertainment. A joke-a-minute pal. And after Dil Chahta Hai he's really blossoming as an actor."

But isn't Saif moody like Akshaye? "I've never seen Saif's moody side. Am I moody? Honestly, it was a reputation well-earned at the beginning of my career. But now no longer applicable. Everyone is entitled to their highs and lows. I'm not temperamental. I get annoyed easily. But I don't get angry easily."

And right now Akshaye sitting in Bangkok is far from angry. "Race has had a smash-hit opening. It's got a bigger opening than Anil Kapoor's other release Welcome. Mine is a very effective role. My character is the karta-dharta (the mover-shaker) of the script. Abbas-Mustan had earlier cast me as negative character in Humraaz. I enjoy being wicked. Such roles are fun to play. And fun to watch. When I had heard the script of Humraaz, I told Abbas-Mustan, 'Boss I'm the hero; though conventionally I'm the villain. But my character is the most entertaining.' Sure enough people came out of Humraaz wishing me not to die."

Akshaye goes into a wicked rewind. “If you look at the history of great screen villains, for example Anthony Hopkins in The Silence Of The Lambs, audiences don't want them to die in the film. So many people have told me they didn't want me to die in Race. That's a very positive sign about my negative roles."

Akshaye can't stop glowing over the way Race has been received. "Abbas-Mustan really know how to use me well…so for that matter does Anil Kapoor. I enjoyed shooting Shortcut and Gandhi My Father for Anil as much as the films of Abbas-Mustan. I wouldn't give up either. There's a greater likelihood of people watching Race than Gandhi My Father. But no one can tell what would work, what wouldn't. I'm really proud of that film. No other film has given me what Gandhi My Father has. And it will continue to make me proud."

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Race reviews 3

Akshaye Khanna revs it up as the rogue, puts his tongue firmly in his cheek, and romances both Bips and the other scantily-clad lovely, Katrina Kaif. (Indian Express)

The three male leads are fantastic and it is a tough choice to decide who plays the role of the jerk the best. (Deccan Herald)

Akshaye Khanna and Saif, on the other hand, were brilliant. (Indya.com)

Askhaye is more than competent in playing underdog role. (MusicnMovies)

The film belongs to him and he rocks all the way. Akshaye Khanna too has played the character of Rajiv with consummate ease and his laidback attitude perfectly suited the character. (Star Dust)

Akshaye's career

This post at Beth's, set off by this post here, questions Akshaye's decisions about the movies he has done. I wanted to post a brief retort at Beth's place but this is a good opportunity to discuss Akshaye's career.

Akshaye started his career at the end of nineties, that twilight zone of Bollywood, when modernizing influences of Yash-Chopra camp and corporate productions houses like UTV which would change it forever, were still in the crucible stage. Yash-Chopra was confined to Shah Rukh, corporate money was still to come and Bollywood was yet to globally position itself.

Akshaye came in. A dazzling looker and an impressive, if raw talent, he was offered work that was a remnant of old Bollywood, even while audience tastes, exposed to cable TV and globalization, were changing. As Akshaye himself would maintain, he did whatever work he was offered. It is unfortunate that he rejected the only quality movie that he was offered(Deepa Mehta's Earth which Aamir Khan went to do); whether it was fear of being tagged an art movie hero when his 'commercial' ventures were turning turnips at the box-office or simply he had not dates, as he officially maintained, it was still unfortunate.

Added to this fact, Akshaye could not be slotted into a conventional hero mould, no matter how much Bollywood tried. You see Akshaye was offered Border, an unconventional role for a newcomer. It was now that Vinod Khanna woke up to the fact that his son wanted to act and instead of letting him star first in a multi-starrer, Vinod decided to give him a launch vehicle himself. The problem was that with zero cinematic sensibilities, the movie Vinod produced was a concoction of the worst cliches of Bollywood. It was as if Vinod was stuck in a time warp and couldn't imagine that world has moved on from the seventies, where he was still a major star. The movie also glamorises Vinod at the cost of his son and couldn't make up it's mind whether it was Vinod's or Akshaye's vehicle. You want to luanch your son, then get out of his way!

It was a catastrophe and it is a tribute to Akshaye's talent that he could rise above it. If they had made even a third rate love story with some good songs, the attraction of a new star son would have made it a huge hit. Ah, well. Next, Akshaye appeared in another movie in which he starred along another fading diva of Bollywood, Madhuri Dixit. Madhuri was failing at the box-office and losing her star status very quickly; a victim of the same transformation happening in Bollywood. She was the queen of mirchi style movies which Bollywood was making for rural hinterlands of UP and Bihar but ceased to be secure when Bollywood discovered the NRI market. Dil Chahta Hai came too late for. As a last ditch effort to recapture her old aura, she did a fake home production and got cast herself against two young studs of the moment, Akshaye one of them.

It was clear that though Madhuri and Vinod were major stars, they had developed only an ephemeral understanding of the movies, where their knowledge was confined to knowing the worst cliches of Bollywood and did not have any deeper sensibility for the movie process itself; Akshaye would suffer as a result. Mohabbat was a rehash of the early nineties Bollywood and was a disaster.

Akshaye then appeared in Border where he played a young officer who hates war. Even with much bigger stars around him, he walked away with the show. The movie was his first major hit but it immediately set up two major problems for his young career.

Both in his first movie, Himalayputra and his first major hit, Border, Akshaye played the same character; a young man who has huge issues with his father, which is the centre of his angst. Now that Border was a hit, Akshaye was handed down the same role in film after film. In Bollywood, stars are decided upon first and roles are written based on their filmi persona, and Akshaye's persona was set as this young man who is ranting about his missing father in half the movie. This could hardly endear him to audiences and you end up with the paradox that audiences loved him, hated his roles. It was Akshaye, his beauty, his smile, his acting they liked, not his cold-immersed-in-himself-but-blame-the-mising-father-when-convenient character that he got handed down in movie after movie.

The second problem was that Border, though a fine efffort, was appreciated by the balcony class than the aam junta where Akshaye was concerned. It set up a clash between elite expectations and mass requirements that dogs him to this day. The critics love to see him in all kind grey roles; the audience don't get to see a hero. It is startling to think that he hasn't played to the masses even once till now.

His major movies in the first phase of the career were efforts where his vitality was channeled into serving as a template for faded divas to staunch their growing irrelevance(Vinod Khanna, Himalayputra; Madhuri Dixit, Mohabbat; RKFilms, Aa ab Laut Chale; Subash Ghai, Taal; Priyadarshan, before he found his niche with comedies, in Doli Sajke Rakhna). His other efforts were the dregs of Bollywood(Kudrat, Laawaris, Dahek); they would have worked in late eighties or early nineties, but not when the world was awaiting a new millenium. It is quite telling that, in spite of his looks, he was never moulded into a romantic hero. His third year at box-office, he had an average Aa Ab Laut Chalen and a huge hit in Taal but that still was not sufficient for the press from going mercilessly after him. When Dahek bombed that year, he was written off.

Akshaye now took a break from the movies and we did not hear from him for over a year. Critics painted picture of doom. Bollywood, now blessed with the likes of Abhishek Bacchan and Hrithik Roshan, would soon forget him, they said. Akshaye went on his break anyway.

It was the new millenium and Akshaye came back with Dil Chahta Hai. The movie was a huge hit but it was also a turning point, not in Akshaye's career, but in Bollywod itself. The movie became emblematic of a new zeitgeist and lead to rest, the Bollywood of the angry young man, the street-dancing heroine and the cigar-smoking vamp. That year, Lagaan was nominated fror the Academy awards and the new Bollywood had arrived.

For Akshaye though, DCH was as much a blessing as a curse. He played a young man in love with much older woman. Where his co-stars are fun, he is sober. The critics loved him. The audiences were indifferent. Saif Ali Khan, in the same movie, played a conventional but audience-pleasing role and he went on to become the major star he is now. Akshaye was shut out simply because Bollywood did not know what to make of him; in the bottom of their hearts, many bigwigs privately thought Akshaye did the character because he was balding (probably the same reasoning lead YRF to cast him opposite Madhuri Dixit in Aaja Nachle, instead of relying on its house stars).

Also, the work of DCH quality is pretty hard to come by and Akshaye waited. He was initially lucky. Abbas-Mustan came to him with a negative role in a thriller, a role which was offered to the likes of Abhishek Bachan and Arjun Rampal and rejected by them. Akshaye did it. Humraaz was the first time when he was able to break from the problems his career had suffered all along. For the first time, his role was appreciated both by the critics and the masses. For the first time, he had the more colorful role while the hero played by Bobby Deol was spouting off pious platitudes.

He also get lucky with Deewangee, his next release. Years ago, Nitin Manmohan had given him a signing amount for a movie that never got made. When Deewangee went through a lot of cast changes, Nitin finally decided to rope in Akshaye. Next came Priyadarshan, who had found success in Bollywood at last with a comedy in Hera Pheri and initiated Akshaye in his first comedy, Hulchul.

All these movies were quintensially Bollywood, and yet they were slick and well-made. It is true that the elites pining for another Dil Chahta Hai would not be satisfied but they offered many adavantages to Akshaye. Firstly, he was able to break from the daddy-ditched-me kind of roles. Secondly, he acquired a deserved fame for versatility. Thirdly, all were hits and kept him viable at the box-office. Akshaye's famous script sense comes from this phase of his career.

This is the second stage of Akshaye's career where things seem to be finally taking off. There were problems though. Akshaye began to adopt what was termed Aamir Khan rule of film selection, do one movie per year. The problem was that Aamir went on to give hits like Raja Hindustani and Ghulam but Humraaz and Hulchul could hardly do the same for Akshaye. Also, it was pointed out that Akshaye gave hits only in multi-starrers. It was as if he was waiting to do work of DCH calibre but it never materialised again and there is less and less excuse if you have to wait for more than a year if at at the end of it, you get a Hunagama or a Hulchul.

Also, Bollywood was changing. Corporate houses were flooding in and stars like John Abraham and Abhishek Bachan were doing a zillion movies per year. If you do those many, you would finally land a hit movie sometime. Multi-starrers were the way to go. While Akshaye was making movies and being judged by the rules of Shah Rukh-Aamir era, others were finding much nimbler paths to success. Still, the Akshaye Expressed lumbered on but things came to a heavy halt when Deewaar was a big flop.

Akshaye probably did Deewaar to add action movies to his resume but Deewaar re-visited that fatherless boy role once again and was a throwback to the seventies when its plot would have made any impact. Morever, Akshaye was a wee bit uncomfortable with action. The second phase was over.

Akshaye now went on a break of sorts. He took more than a year off to film Gandhi-My Father. At the time, it looked like a very bad decision. The movie was kept under wraps for years. I think the movie did a lot of good to Akshaye but it is so heavily misunderstood, it warrants a separate post.

Akshaye came back determined to do more movies, more often. He is over thirty now and as he pointed out, if he doesn't do movies now when will he do them? But, the rules of the game have changed. Bollywood is now dominated by assembly-line production houses like YRF, Karan Johar, UTV and their ilk and he is shut out of them them completely. Akshaye has survived the nineties unlike say, Bobby Deol and is still viable but for the studios he is still a nienties product and not someone whom they can stylishly dress up and market with a designer body and a designer wardrobe. The rest of the production houses are scrambling to adapt and it is here that Akshaye finds his work.

So far, the third phase has not been salutary. The work he has done is inferior in quality and has not made any mark at the box-office either. He is stuck in a somewhat vicious rotating roster doing films with old familiars like Abbas-Mustan, Priyadarshan, Anil Kapoor and Subash Ghai with an occasional SEI serving as an outlet. It is kind of ominous that he is not making any inroads into other productions. New directors do want to work with him but call it bad timing, these projects never take off; Taare Zameen par should have come to him but went to Aamir instead; Renthil DeSilva was probably interested in signing him up but it didnt work out. Both Aditya Chopra and Karan Johar don't like him personally, so he is automatically shut out from best work done in Bollywood. For some reason, directors like Mani Ratnam don't seem to like him either. Case in point when Mani casted a much older Ajay Devgan in Yuva, when a talent like Akshaye of suitable age was available. Finally, the elite audience brought to him by the DCH stint seem to be desrting him and time is running out.

So, what's Akshaye to do(and his fans)? There was a time when I used to imagine Akshaye in every exciting venture announced in Bollywood. Nothing ever materialized. It is Akshaye's fate that he makes us see all these glorious movies that never happen. His talent, his very aura promises something sublime. I have grown out of it. Now, when I see a Akshaye's movie, I am quite conscious of the fact that in just a few years time, Akshaye's innings maybe over and we will never have a movie from him again. And that makes me want to see him in as many movies he can do now. I'll be happy if he is offered the work worthy of his stature but I'm not waiting for it.

I am a movie snob and I can't really digest badly made movies. Nevertheless, these days, I don't see an Akshaye movie for the movie itself, I see it for Akshaye. Even in the worst movie, there is bound to be a magic moment, a moment when he smiles a pensive smile or looks out at the universe, and you are transported to another world, however fleetingly. Even a Shaadi Se Pehle is worth watching for that one odd moment.

Akshaye going shirtless more often?...

I haven't noticed it till now but this commenter is true. Akshaye has taken his shirt off in SEI, Naqaab and now Race. Is that some kind of a trend? If it is, it's a nice one. He has lost weight too. All the wishes of his longstanding fans are coming true! Hope he gets rid of his shyness when romancing heroines on the screen. That would make our cup of joy full.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

The best reason to watch Race is.......

apparently, Akshaye has a shirtless scene in it. What are you gals waiting for?

Fantastic opening

The much-awaited RACE has opened to a fantastic response [90% +] across the nation. The film has had an extensive release in India [1300 screens, of which 450 are digitals], with some multiplexes playing as many as 24 shows a day [Cinemax Versova in Mumbai].

Saturday is a holiday [Holi] and Sunday being a holiday, the first weekend is expected to be huge. The reports are extremely positive and one expects the business on weekdays to be strong as well. With such strong business on hand, the film is expected to emerge a major success story in days to come.

Meanwhile, UTV organized the paid previews in India on Thursday night and the response was fabulous everywhere. Paid previews were also held in U.K. and the collections were £ 34,283 on 33 screens.

In the meantime, the first hit of 2008, JODHAA AKBAR, is nearing the £ 1 million mark in U.K. The total has reached £ 988,424 till Thursday night.

(Indiafm)

Even Rediff admits that Akshaye's is the main character in Race. Will Akshoo get the credit if Race is a huge hit?

Friday, March 21, 2008

Race reviews 2

Odd for Akshaye, he seems to have got better notices from mass viewers than the elite reviewers:

While almost everybody in the cast is good, it is Akshaye Khanna who takes the cake. He is the perfect antagonist. In fact, it seems he is forming a team of sorts with Abbas-Mustaan (Humraaz, 36 China Town and Naqaab). His is the best and the most natural act. (Merinews)

Akshaye Khanna has the film's main role, and while his smirk and his shrug manage a couple of lines alright, this really isn't a performance to talk about. Never convincing, the otherwise competent Khanna too seems to be phoning in this role, more at ease grimacing behind the wheel than actually delivering his constant, overwritten punchlines. (Raja Sen) (BTW, don't read this review before watching this movie! Raja Sen really hates Akshaye, so if he has conceded that Akshaye did manage OK, then Akshaye must have done really well!)

Akshaye’s restricted to his traditional tweaking facial expressions. (Economic Times)

Akshaye Khanna does really well too. Abbas –Mastan always emerge in bringing out the negative traits in Akshaye with ease. The wickedness in Akshaye is expressed well with his smile. But the only problem here is that Akshaye has done such roles before for Abbas-Mastan thus there lacks a certain amount of shock value. (Indiaglitz)

Akshaye Khanna has mastered the art of the villainish smirk, thanks to his earlier outing in Abbas Mustan’s Humraaz (Timesnow)

Apart from this the movie is a fine entertainer with pretty good action sequences and a superb performance from Akshaye Khanna. He is the man you would love to hate in the film.

Akshaye Khanna deserves a special mention for a terrific performance in the film. He is the scene stealer. His pursed lips, his sarcastic smile, his raised brow and his funny demeanor make even the villainy of his character likeable. He plays the guy who has something funny to say even in the face of grave danger. (Glamsham)

Akshaye Khanna delivers an amazing performance. He acts brilliantly throughout the movie. (Nowrunning)

the usually dependable Akshaye Khanna delivers an amateurish performance by hamming through his scenes.. (CNN-IBN)

Shockingly, Akshaye Khanna hams. (Hindustan Times)

Akshaye Khanna proves his worth again! I have always loved his performance in every film and have always praised him. His performance in movies like Border, Aa Ab Laut Chalen, Taal, Dil Chahta Hai, Humraaz, Deewangee, Hungama, Deewar, Hulchul, 36 China Town, Salaam-E-Ishq, Naqaab and Gandhi My Father were marvelous and in Race too, he was fabulous! Hopefully, he’ll get more and better roles after this memorable performance! (Filmi Khabar)

Akshay Khanna too performs a tough role in an impressive manner. He can easily add this movie in his career’s Top 3. (Filmi Khabar)

Akshaye Khanna proves his worth again! I have always loved his performance in every film and have always praised him. His performance in movies like Border, Aa Ab Laut Chalen, Taal, Dil Chahta Hai, Humraaz, Deewangee, Hungama, Deewar, Hulchul, 36 China Town, Salaam-E-Ishq, Naqaab and Gandhi My Father were marvelous and in Race too, he was fabulous! Hopefully, he’ll get more and better roles after this memorable performance!(Filmi Khabar)

Abbas-Mustan have always exploited Akshaye Khanna's talent to the fullest. And Race is no different. He might have got a raw deal in the promos, but in the film Khanna has the most well defined role. But a word of caution when it comes to his appearance. Khanna immediately needs to lose all that flab and get back into shape. In fact, senior actors like Anil and Saif come across looking fresher the Khanna Jr.
(Buzz18)

The actors, especially Saif Ali Khan, are in auto-pilot mode. Only Akshaye, who has the best lines, seems to be having any fun. (NDTV)

C factor

Everyone's caught in the vicious web of life - vying for the top slots, the largest bank accounts, and fighting for their occupancy on the chair of power. In comparison, actor Akshaye Khanna seems content. He comes across as a man who is enjoying his journey and pursuing his passion. But where has the ambition gone? "For that I'll have to define what ambition is. Ambition to me is doing whatever one has the power to do. For an actor, being successful comes with two things - one, being a good professional, which I believe I am, and two, choosing the best films that come your way, working on yourself and your role, which I do, too" explains Khanna, from faraway Bangkok where he is shooting.

The actor has just returned from watching a film. "We had a free day today, so we just set out to watch a movie. Otherwise, we have been working at a frantic pace for hours on end. Bangkok is hot and humid right now, and our hours in the sun get us so drained, that all we want to do is get into our rooms and crash. But that is a great feeling. It's a high of sorts," he says.

We've learnt about Akshaye's hobbies - the three C's - Chess, Computer games and Cookery. "I'm a bad chess player, contrary to the popular belief that I'm an ace at the game," he confesses, "I wouldn't even be considered to play club level chess. But you know how shooting for a film is. You get so much time in between shots, that you might as well spend your time doing something you enjoy, and chess is one of the most interesting ways to pass one's time," he suggests.

About computer games, it's card games that catch his fancy. And cookery is surely an ajeeb pastime for an intellect like him to have. "I don't cook, but yes, I want to learn how to cook, simply because I love eating. I love being in the kitchen and watch people work in there. It amazes me. I wouldn't mind chopping some vegetables or stirring something," he laughs. So is the way to Akshaye's heart through his stomach? "Most certainly! There are various ways to get there, but if you try the stomach route, there are chances you'll get there faster," he jokes.

And the way to a woman's heart would be...? "Through her stomach again. I'd like my woman to enjoy her food," he shares. This leads us on to questions of Akshaye's 'most eligible bachelor' tag. Isn't Akshaye bored of it? "Not really! Such tags are perfectly welcome," he avers. And how the actor deal with speculations about dating a 'mystery woman' he won't tell us about? "Oh yes, people are still speculating where this 'mystery woman' is from. Or should I say 'mystery women' for I seem to have a woman in every port. But they missed out on Bangkok, I think". And the phone went dead.

(Indiatimes)

Akshaye didn't attend Race premiere?

Race pics







Thursday, March 20, 2008

Akshaye: Bollywood's underrated actors

Star son status notwithstanding, Vinod Khanna's lad proved to be a superior chip of the old block with his debut, Himalayaputra -- an abysmal movie where Akshaye nevertheless rocked.

Regardless of his box office status and hair-aches, the actor has consistently thrilled us with warmth and versatility in films like Border, Taal, Dil Chahta Hai, Hulchul, Deewangee, Humraaz and Gandhi My Father. (Rediff)

Race reviews

Will start posting as they come along. Looks like Race will be a hit:

Akshaye is so perfect. To carry off a difficult character like this is a Herculean task and the supremely talented actor handles it with aplomb. He’s like a chameleon; he slips into various roles with remarkable ease. But the fact cannot be denied that Abbas-Mustan bring out the best in Akshaye. Watch his body of work and you’d agree that Akshaye’s performances in the director duo’s films have always stood out. (Indiafm)

Akshaye Khanna always manages to stand out in Abbas-Mastan movies, no different in Race. He is superb.(Indicine)

Akshaye Khanna with his controlled performance throws in some credibility to the going ons however silly the situation seems to be getting. But again the Humraaz mould. (Naachgaana)

Akshaye Khanna and Saif, on the other hand, were brilliant. (My News)

Akshaye's performance in the film wasn't bad considering the difficult characterization but it was easily overshadowed by Saif's. (SAWF)

Race is hot at the box-office

There has been no major release this year except Jodhaa Akbar which has been trying to slog its way to recovery but the box office looking for a genuine hit will try to make a case of it this week given that the advance bookings for the the multistarrer Race releasing this week are showing good response in the early going.

The Akshaye Khanna-Saif Ali Khan-Anil Kapoor-Bipasha Basu-Katrina Kaif film has been booked at excellent terms and is being screened at a very high 18-19 shows per day at some of the multiplexes.

The movie is getting an early Thursday release in many parts of the country. Though the Thursday launch screenings don't appear to end up sold out across the board, the weekend bookings being uplifted at 60% on high volume screenings should ensure a solid start for the action adventure thriller.

It had been reported earlier that Race, an UTV release, had been acquired for Rs 60 crores.

(IBOS)

More on Life Partner

Akshaye Khanna, Bobby Deol and Tusshar Kapoor have been approached for writer turned director Rumi Jaffery’s second film.

According to Rumi Jaffery’s assistant, Jaffery who is currently busy in post production of his directorial debut film God Tussi Great Ho, is in talks with three stars for his next. Titled as Life Partner , this film will be produced by directors turned producers, Abbas Mastaan for their newly launched production house.

Rumi confirms “Yes my next will be Life Partner that will star three actors and three actresses. It’s a romantic comedy which showcases stories of three couples. I am in talks with stars but would not like to talk till they signed for the film.”

It is also believed that Life Partner will be co produced by Eros International. Rumi plans to release his directorial venture in June while Life Partner will commence in May. He has also been signed by Ashtavinayak Films to direct their next. Their untitled will star John and Kareena Kapoor in main lead. This should commence at the end of this year.

(Filmfare)

This is a bit confusing. Both Rumi Jaffrey and Rohit Jugraj were signed by Abbas-Mustan, so who is directing this movie? We should wait till it's confirmed, i think. We never know, Akshaye mayn't do it.

Unsung Heroes

Back in 1997, when Dharmendra was awarded the lifetime achievement award, the teary-eyed actor remarked on something he never got during his successful career span of more than four decades – recognition.

In his speech, he said, “My contribution has finally been recognised.” Renowned lyricist and screenplay writer Javed Akhtar seems to share his views. “Dharmendra has done some remarkable work, Anupama and Satyakam to name a few. But he never got his due. The one actor who was truly the unsung hero of Indian cinema is Balraj Sahani. Can you believe him not winning any award in his entire career span, not even for his performances in Do Beegha Zameen and Garam Hawa ?"

Well, the trend continues with many actors falling in this category. Actors like Akshaye Khanna, Ajay Devgan, Akshay Kumar, Urmila Matondkar, Kay Kay Menon and Pankaj Kapoor are the silent workers in Bollywood. In spite of hit movies and a decent fan following, they remain the underdogs.

So much so, that they themselves start undermining their capabilities. Probably that’s why actor Anil Kapoor, during the making of Gandhi , My Father , chided Akshaye Khanna for his habit of putting too small a price on his assignments. But Akshaye, like many stars, blames media favouritism, patting the backs of the 'so-called' blue-eyed actors. He said, “Ratings are up to the media. Over-rating or under-rating myself is not my job. It's for others to do. My job is just to act.”

While working with Ajay Devgan in Tango Charlie , actor Kelly Dorjee was more than fascinated with Ajay’s acting caliber. He says, “I’ve learnt so much from him. Very quiet and docile, he's undoubtedly one of the most underrated actors.”

Silence is golden, they say. But not always. Probably that’s why SRK, Abhishek and Hrithik are more popular, as they are loquacious about their work. Aversion to coming out of the shell and not speaking out their mind earns many actors a low score on the rating scale. Ajay Devgan, Ranvir Shorey, Vinay Pathak, Irrfan Khan – they don’t open up to media and are never in any controversies, which often proves an easier way to recognition than hard work.

Unconventional looks, not being self-promoting, labelled a ‘serious’ actor, or having done offbeat movies – If you have one of the above-mentioned qualities, you are not one of the blue-eyed boys for sure. Endorsements are yet again a major factor. “It’s a corporate game. They back the stars, promote them and put them in the limelight. Actors like Akshaye Khanna are not popular because they are not doing any ads. If you want to be popular, join the ad bandwagon,” says actor Jackie Shroff.

(TOI)

Partying in Bangkok

All roads lead to Bangkok! For the moment, at least. Bollywood's big league comprising Saif Ali Khan, Priyanka Chopra, her friend Akshay Kumar, new-kid-in-the-block Deepika Padukone, Akshaye Khanna and funny man Arshad Warsi are all having a great time in the Thai capital. The actors are definitely not there as a part of a stellar film's cast. All the actors have been shooting for different films and commercials in Bangkok for the last few days.

The actors, who bumped into each other at the airport and restaurants, are now making the most of their trip by frequently meeting up and hanging out together.

Sources indicate that Saif, Akshay Kumar, Akshaye Khanna and Arshad are getting along well. The men are bonding over their fitness regimes. Fitness buffs Saif and Akshay are on a strict diet and are keeping a close watch on what they eat. The latter is particularly tired of looking for green salads in Bangkok, which is a haven for sea-food lovers. However, Akshaye Khanna and Arshad Warsi are not complaining. Arshad, who is particularly fond of prawns, couldn't have been happier. While Akshay believes in 'early to bed and early to rise', Saif, Akshaye and Arshad are enjoying their late night outings.

Coming to the women, Priyanka is filming for an elaborate commercial with Saif for a cosmetic giant. And when she is not shooting she heads straight to the beaches to enjoy the sand and the surf. Priyanka, who is already looking overworked, is yet to complete her magnum opus Love Story 2050 along with boyfriend Harman Baweja and is quite apprehensive about the film's approaching deadline.

A source close to the actress says, "Lately, Priyanka has been shooting for almost 21 hours every day for Love Story 2050. But some sequences of the film are yet to be shot."

Meanwhile, Deepika is busy socialising and ganging up with her seniors. A source from the sets of Nikhil Advani's Chandni Chowk to China Town informs, "Deepika has befriended Akshay and they get along very well."

Needless to say, the stars certainly aren't complaining as their current Bangkok trip is all about working hard and partying harder.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

"Akshaye drives cars insanely fast"

From Katrina Kaif's interview:
About the forthcoming flick, Katrina explains, "It's a fast paced film which offers great entertainment. The styling by Anaita (Shroff) is fantastic." But talks about Katrina being disappointed about her very limited screen time is doing the rounds. "As much as I'd love myself to dominate a film, I can't expect every movie to be a Namastey London , and I am fine with it," she tells us, adding, "Though Race is an action film, I haven't performed too many stunts. The most daring thing that I've done in the movie is sit next to Akshaye Khanna who drives cars insanely fast! That was still a stunt for me! Also, I believe that people like a film for its entirety and not for a single character, so I'm happy with my little contribution."

Not sure if she meant it was for this movie alone or Akshoo drives crazily all the time. Drive safe, Akshoo!

Akshaye nominated for Producer's Guild Awards

The Film and Television Producers Guild of India will be hosting the Producers' Guild Awards on 30 March 2008 at the MMRDA Grounds in Mumbai.

Hindi GEC NDTV Imagine and media and entertainment company Wizcraft International will promote the awards.

NDTV Imagine CEO Sameer Nair said, "We are very pleased to present the Producers' Guild Awards on NDTV Imagine. We have had an association with this award for the past three years and now we have plans to extend this collaboration for the next ten years."

"We will be screening the awards function on our channel on the second week of April. The promos for the event will begin sometime this week and will be shown across the entire NDTV network," Nair added.

Wizcraft is producing the ad campaigns for the awards which will then be promoted by them through print and television.

Wizcraft International Entertainment director Viraf Sarkari said, "We are very proud to be associated with this prestigious award. It is the only award that is chosen by the core industry itself and we promise the it will emerge this year as one of the most glamorous awards, be it on scale, performances, attendance, look, feel or presentation."

The trophy which will be given away at the award function is called "Apsara." A total of 28 Apsaras will be presented this year, of which 16 are for the popular awards category, 7 for the technical category and 5 for the special awards category.

The Film and Television Producers Guild of India's lifetime achievement award will go to the one nominated and voted by the guild's special Committee.

The recipient of lifetime achievement award must be a well-established performer who has contributed to improving the image of the film and television profession, and has a history of active involvement in humanitarian and public service endeavours.

Guild president Ronnie Screwvala said, "The Producers' Guild Awards looks to honour achievers within the fraternity and it is an initiative from the fraternity itself. And that is the prime differentiator and what makes this special. With this synergy between the guild and Wizcraft, we are confident that very soon this will become the most credible amongst awards."

The awards are audited by PriceWaterhouse Coopers, who also have been the auditors for the Oscars for the past 68 years. Nominations include all motion pictures exhibited or broadcast between 1 December 2006 and 30 November 2007.

The nominations in the best actor category are Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Khanna and Shahid Kapoor. Kareena Kapoor will be competing with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Tabu, Shilpa Shetty and Rani Mukherjee.

The best film category will witness Chak De India competing with Jab We Met, Guru, Life in a Metro and Cheeni Kum.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Ready!

After Manorama-6 Feet Under, Shemaroo Films has completed shooting its next project called Mere Baap Pehle Aap. The film is directed by Priyadarshan and produced by Raman Maroo.

The film was shot in Goa, Kerala, and Chennai and Mumbai. Filming of two songs remains, one of which would be shot in Mumbai, and the second one in foreign locales.

The movie stars Akshaye Khanna, Paresh Rawal, Genelia D'souza, Om Puri, with Shobhna, Archana Puran Singh and Rajpal Yadav.

The film has been co-produced by Ketan Maru and Mansi Maroo. Piyush Shah is the director of photography and the sets are designed by Sabu Cyril. The songs are composed by Vidyasagar and penned by Sameer.

Choreographers for the film are Pony Verma, M.Prasanna, Bosco and Ceaser. The look for the cast of the film has been designed by Neeta Lulla, Shefali Gupta (Genelia D'Souza), Farzeen (Akshaye Khanna), Rahul Agasti (rest of the cast).

Thursday, March 13, 2008

"Akshaye is like a son to us"

Abbas-Mustan on their favorite actor since 2002:




You can call them the ultimate Khiladi when it comes to thriller genres. Without any Daraar between them, this two brother duo has proved that they are the Baadshah's of Bollywood. Chori Chori Chupke Chupke they have been making suspense movies since 1992 which have kept the audiences on the edge of their seats. They are no Ajnabee to us nor do they wear any Naqaab. I have no Aitraaz in calling them the true Baazigar who have won every time despite some defeats at the box office. But now fasten your seat belts, hold your breath and get ready for the Race of a lifetime. And with Abbas Mustan in the driver's seat, they are sure to cross the chequered flag first this time.

Do you think you will win the Race?
Hope so. Keeping our fingers crossed. God has been kind to us every time. We have worked hard and have done our bit. The rest is up to the almighty. But the Race isn't over yet. We'll see what happens.

Your favourite Akshaye Khanna yet again. Is it right in saying that he is your favourite choice when it comes to suspense thrillers?
Yes. He is our favourite choice for thrillers since 2002. But he is playing a character this time which is far more complex compared to Humraaz and Naqaab. Akshaye is a complete all-rounder. He is like a son to us and this is his fourth Abbas Mustan film.

We put in the same amount of dedication and commitment behind all our films
Out of all your suspense films since 1992, which one came across as the most challenging, the most exciting and the most deserving to win awards?
We don't categorize our films nor give labels to them. When we work on any given script, it's a new challenge in itself. We put in the same amount of dedication and commitment behind all our films. It entirely depends on the audiences who after watching our film can tell you whether the film deserves an award, whether it was exciting or not, etc but our approach towards all our films is the same.

Read the rest at indiafm.com


It raises my hopes that they say his role is more complex. If that's the case, why would they sign Fardeen for the role in the first place?

Say it isn't so, Akshoo

Akshaye nuts about a sidey actress?

We're being told about some sidey actress called Deepali. She has this ability to make men go crazy over her.

A source informs that actor Akshaye Khanna is nuts about her. Yipes, whatever happened to him? Snake bit him or what? Other Deepali deewanas include a senior actor who’s known for his clean-cut ways.

So is a senior director who isn’t known for his clean cut ways.. this director even did a semi-nude scene in an ancient movie once.

Now, now, don’t get curious about the seniors. That's a secret!


(HTTabloid)

Playing solitaire

Akshaye Khanna spent some idyllic days all by himself in film-maker Priyadarshan’s yacht in the backwaters of Alleppey, Kerala. Solitaire, as the yacht is fondly called by its owner, is quite popular with the Bollywood crowd.

The yacht of 107 ft is well-equipped for an ideal holiday in the backwaters of Alleppey. It even has fishing equipment, and Khanna indulged himself to the hilt fishing in the backwaters. Om Puri and Paresh Rawal too have stayed on the boat with their families on
various occasions.

Says a source, “Priyadarshan had bought the yacht a few months back. It has two well-furnished bedrooms and an enormous dining room as well.”
Priyadarshan talks to us about his yacht. He says, “My children have grown up in concrete jungles unlike me, who had the opportunity to see nature in close quarters. This vehicle is therefore a good escape from the city life for families such as mine. Yes, my friends do spend a lot of time on the yacht all by themselves or with their families.”

He adds, “Fishing has been my hobby since childhood. So, I made sure that the boat was well-supplied with facilities for fishing. I am in the business of tourism and my yacht is the biggest boat available in the area.” What is this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare. Is that right, Akshaye?

(TOI)

Friday, March 7, 2008

Akshaye with Suniel at a boating event--Part 3

Akshaye with Suniel at a boating event--Part 2
























Thanks to radiosargam

Akshaye looks wonderful after the wight loss



I like his hair too. It's styled great first time after Humraaz. Whatever movie it is, we've just gotto see it.

Akshaye in Abbas-Mustan's Life Partner?

After two back-to-back intense performances in SHOOTOUT AT LOKHANDWALA and AGGAR, Tusshar Kapoor is back to comedies in a big way.

If he ended 2007 on a high with DHOL, he seems to be pretty much on an upswing this year as he kick-starts 2008 with ONE TWO THREE. As Lakshminarayan, one of the three namesakes in this Ashwani Dhir film, he plays a funny wannabe gangster.

This would be followed by yet another laugh riot C KKOMPANY, which is said to be a spoof on underworld. Apart from Tusshar, the film also stars Anupam Kher, Rajpal Yadav, Raima Sen and Mithun Chakraborty.

Other than ONE TWO THREE and C KKOMPANY, some other comedies where Tusshar plays the lead role are DO LUCKY (along with Govinda, Amisha Patel and Tanushree Datta), LIFE PARTNER (along with Akshaye Khanna and Fardeen Khan) and last but not the least GOLMAAL RETURNS (along with Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi, Shreyas Talpade, Kareena Kapoor, Anjana Sukhani, Amrita Arora and Celina Jaitley).

Surely, Tusshar is going all out to ensure that his fans laugh along with him throughout 2008 with as many as 5 comedies in a row!

(glamsham)

Fardeen is OK but Tusshar sucks. At elast, AK will get to headline the cast. He'll just the blast the other two with this intensity. Thanks for the tip.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Race dialog trailers

WTF?!! The second Race promo doesn't even feature Akshaye, or anyone else except the Nawaab Saab!

While Akshaye's trailer has generous dollops of Saif. All the trailers are here.

Akshaye at Rowing Boat Show--Video


Even by looking at the photos, I thought Akshaye n Suniel were cold towards each other. This video confirms it. What happened? They were not close like AK n Anil but they were really cordial with each other. Maybe Akshaye has rejected Suniel's movie.

But, Akshaye really rocks in the video, doesn't he?

Akshaye links for today

Now you can watch Akshaye's track in Salaam-e-iShq all by itself.

Also, Akshaye is not happy with the styling in Race.

Akshaye, the decent acotr of Bollywood? Ruminations on Akshaye's career.

Akshaye's movies we will never see. they should at least release them on DVD.

I will upload the rest of the pictures from the boat event over the weekend. I know he looks amazing, doesn't he? A big hurrah for our boy!

Saturday, March 1, 2008