Since we are in a recession, I thought I'd start this for time pass. Time for some silly questions every weekend.
Are you irritated when people confuse Akshaye Khanna with Akshay Kumar and vice versa? Why do people still do it? Though Akshay Kumar has earned my goodwill recently for sheer hard work, I mean, come on there's no comparision.
I just noticed that I automatically type the e at the end.
Advani is also slated to direct another film for his banner, which is tentatively titled Chand. The movie is scheduled to go on floors in February next year. "The movie is about a child's journey from a remand home. We are in talks with Akshaye Khanna for this film," informs Talreja.
(Business of Cinema)
I really hope Akshaye striked up a partnership with Nikhil Advani and gets to star in some of the more commercial vehicles. Come on Akshaye, do it!
What's Farhan Akhtar making next, after DON? Sure, he produced HONEYMOON TRAVELS PVT. LTD. and awaits the release of ROCK ON!! [he makes his acting debut with this film], but he hasn't placed himself on the 'Director's Chair' for a while now. But the wait is over!
Farhan begins filming VOICE FROM THE SKY from next month onwards. Is it an English film? "It's not! But it's a film that has tremendous international appeal. There's an audience for this film beyond India," Farhan's partner Ritesh Sidhwani confirms, "It's a period film set in 1905 in Kolkata. It's about a child and the telephone invention. It's a fairytale. In fact, Farhan wanted to make this film immediately after DIL CHAHTA HAI." So far, only Akshaye Khanna has been confirmed for the film.
Meanwhile, Ritesh and Farhan have also made Zoya [Farhan's sister] realize her dreams. Her directorial debut LUCK BY CHANCE is already complete. "Zoya has been working on the script since last five years. It's about the film industry that she has seen since her childhood in the 1970s, till now. It's about a struggling actor [Farhan Akhtar], a superstar [Hrithik Roshan], a Punjabi producer [Rishi Kapoor], a junior artiste [Konkona Sen Sharma]. Plus, a whole lot of stars making special appearances, including Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan," Ritesh divulges.
A sequel to DON is also in the pipeline. "Two people whom we didn't know at all came up with the idea of the sequel. We fell for it instantly. The script is finally complete and we begin filming next year," Ritesh states. Of course, Shah Rukh Khan would head the cast of the film.
A period film? Will it work? The story does have some Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost kinda vibe to it. Please, let it be better than that. Hope Akshaye has a great role in it. So far, it looks like the child's movie.
If you are depressed by total lack of news about Akshaye, you can make up by watching Hulchul tomorrow. 15th August, on Star Gold at 4.30.
Although Akshaye Khanna bonds big-time with his dad he has sworn never to share screen space with him.
"I worked with my dad in my first film Himalayputra. It was an absolutely terrifying experience. There're certain people whom you shouldn't work with. My dad is one of them.
Mr Bachchan is another. To stand in the same frame as them confidently is impossible. They've such an overpowering screen presence. It's very difficult to match my father on screen. It's that quality.
Either you have it or you don't have it. I very frankly don't have it. I just don't have that kind of presence. There're some actors who just wash you away on screen. My dad is one of them."
Akshaye doesn't feel the same way about any of his contemporaries. "But yes, Govinda is another actor I feel the same way about. He's a very EFFECTIVE actor.
Govinda is a very scary actor. Even Sanjay Dutt has such an overpowering screen presence."
Interestingly and ironically Akshaye Khanna has done two very different and dimaterically opposite father-son films in two successive years
While Feroz Gandhi's Gandhi My Father featured Akshaye Khanna as Mahatma Gandhi's estranged son, in the new Priyadarshan comedy Mere Baap Pehle Aap he plays Paresh Rawal's son adamant to get dad married.
"Can you imagine two more contrasting father-son films?" Akshaye Laughs. "Mere Baap…is a genuine feel-good film. I like doing such films.
Every father and son would want to share the easygoing rapport between me and Paresh. My character puts his father's happiness ahead of his own. The son is more like a father, and vice versa.
Paresh's character is so childlike. My character is constantly shouting at and disciplining his dad. It's a very heartwarming kind of relationship. Paresh and I have always gotten along. We spend a lot of time together when we're working."
Is Akshaye happy with the quality of cinema he's doing? "I do the films I get. And I'd rather be in a successful film than a good film. Having said that I must say Gandhi My Father is the single-most important film of my career. Probably my best work. I'm immensely attached to it.
Interestingly 2008 is Akshaye's year of comedy. "Agreed my next release Short Cut after Mere Baap Pehle Aap is also an out-and-out comedy. But Race was not a comedy."
If you say so, Akshaye.
(santa banta)
God, we missed you so much, Akshaye!
