Akshaye slaps a politician

Even before the sound of Harvinder Singh's slap resonating across politician Sharad Pawar's cheek has died down, there comes the news that Akshaye Khanna playing the frustrated disillusioned Common Man in a new film has done exactly that in a forthcoming film. Writer-director Rumi Jaffrey, however, kills the rumour that the sequence has been shot after the slap-happy incident in Delhi.



In what looks like a bizarre reprise of Harvinder Singh's slap against corruption last week, Akshaye Khanna playing the Common Man in writer-director Rumi Jaffrey's Gali Gali Gali Mein Shor Hai, walks up casually to the corrupt politician, played by character-actor Murli Sharma, and plants a resounding slap on the corrupt glib-talking man's face.

Protesting against the buzz that he shot the slapping sequence following the real life incident in the country's capital, Rumi says, "No, no! We shot the sequence three months ago in Bhopal.

We had no clue someone will actually be doing what we had only imagined as a cinematic device to show the Common Man's anger and frustration. We even used to discuss within our crew whether the scene would offend our politicians in any way. But look at destiny! A man actually went and did it."

Rumi says, "I suppose the average Indian's tolerance power has reached breaking-point. When we started Gali-Gali Mein Shor Hai, Anna Hazare saab's campaign and all its offshoots had just started. As we completed the film we realised how deep-rooted people's resentment against corruption had become."

At the moment there's just anxiety on the director's mind: "People shouldn't think we're copying real-life incidents of protest."

The new movie

Akshaye starts shooting for new movie

Produced by Nitin Manmohan under the banner of One Up Entertainmnet Pvt Ltd, the new Hindi feature film Gali Gali Mein Chor Hai is going on the floors starting the 2nd of September 2011 in Bhopal. Starring Akshaye Khanna, Shriya Saran, Mughda Godse the film is being directed by Rumy Jafry.

The film is a satirical comment on the condition of the common man today. Akshaye Khanna, playing the character of a cashier in a bank, gets caught in the whirlwind web of everyday dilemmas. His woes range from lack of time to lack of money to lack of connectivity and lack of will to find a way out through bribing. The outcome of all this and his stubborn views are hilarious situations and comical satirical circumstances.

Wit music by Anu Malik, the cast also includes Annu Kapoor, Satish Kaushik, Akhilendra Mishra, Vijay Raaz, Ashok Samarth, Rajpal Yadav, Shashi Ranjan, Amit Mistry, Vipin Sharma,and Arun Verma.

Stay tuned because we will bring you more on this exciting new project.

Akshaye in Revathy's film?

After Aamir Khan's wife Kiran Rao, it seems Maanayata Dutt is the next star-wife producer in the industry. Needless to say, hubby Sanjay Dutt will play the lead in her debut venture.

A well-placed industry source states that Maanayata will be launching her maiden production sometime later this year.

Two-hero project
According to him, "Revathy Verma will be directing the two-hero movie, which will be a perfect balance of her sensibilities and commercial viability. Apart from Sanju, who will obviously feature as one of the leads, Akshaye Khanna has been confirmed."

However, Dharam Oberoi, CEO, Sanjay Dutt Productions, denies the news saying, "Maanayata bhabhi is not making any movie, nor have we spoken to Revathy. So the question of confirming Sanjuji or Akshaye Khanna doesn't arise either."

Nonetheless, our source, standing by the story, maintains that the film is very much on. "Currently, Revathy is busy with her Malayalam film with Prithviraj and Shriya Saran. Only after that is complete, will things on her movie with the Dutts be finalised," states the source.


Although this is not confirmed, it's good news that there's more talk about Akshaye signing new movies. This is the third we've heard recently. Revathy is a good director, hope this movie pans out.

Akshaye in Dharmesh Darshan's next?

Remember Dharmesh Darshan? Well, the director is all set to make a comeback after five years. Aap Ki Khatir was the flick he had directed in 2006. After that, he did make a film titled Bhanwara with TV actors in the lead but it failed to release.

Our source says, “Dharmesh Darshan has just entered into an agreement with Venus to make a film for them. The director is talking to Akshaye Khanna and Arshad Warsi for this film. Like all Darshan films, this will be an emotional drama.”

Ganesh Jain of Venus confirms, “Yes, we are making a film with him but that is all I can say right now.”

Akshaye leads in Gali Gali Mein Chor Hain

After having enthralled the audiences for sometime now with films like Dor, Tasveer, Wanted etc...Ayesha Takia, seems to be ready for the second innings of her career, post her marriage.

After having recently wrapped up Nagesh Kukunoor's Mod, she is now all set to shoot for Rumi Jaffery's Gali Gali Mein Chor Hai that has Akshaye Khanna in the lead. This film, which is being produced by Nitin Manmohan, happens to be a satirical take on the burning issue of corruption.

Talking about the film, Rumi said that they will be shooting from next month and that it will be a fifty-day start to finish schedule in Bhopal. Rumi also added that while Akshaye plays a man who is a victim of corruption, Ayesha plays the wife who stands by him.

The music of the movie is being composed by Anu Malik, one song of the movie has already been recorded.

This is good news after such a long wait.

Akshaye refuses a lot of films

Akshaye Khanna has been refusing a lot of films only because he has not been able to play the leading man and not too many people are convinced that for the price that Khanna has to be paid for the film, he will not be able to justify the lead billing.

Akshaye is also regretting playing the film actor in Tees Maar Khan and hence has been refusing roles with big stars too. And that is why when Rumy Jaffrey approached him with a film subject which had him in the lead, Akshaye jumped at the offer.

The film will be produced by Nitin Manmohan under his banner and Akshaye is being paid his price as well. Whether Nitin Manmohan also pay the price for signing Akshaye, is something that remains to be seen.

I second Beth

No one will be surprised to hear that I laughed like a loon at much of Akshaye Khanna's performance, ridiculous as it was. Even in Priyadarshan films I haven't seen him go overboard like he did here, and for a fan like me it was a fun experiment. He tempered the jaw-clenching nicely with a few puzzled, the-lightbulb-is-almost-on looks as his manager kept insisting something was fishy. And the very idea of Akshaye as that kind of superstar is a hoot in itself. That said, even effectively channeling dacoit-era Hot Papa Khanna with the angry shouting, sash, and black tilak, I think he'll do better long-term in more nuanced secondary roles like Aaja Nachle and Luck by Chance. I'm just glad I got to see him on the big screen without having to resort to Shortkut or No Problem.

Whatever the problems of TMK as a film, for an Akshaye fan it was a treat. Also, it's a bonus that he's being unanimously held up as rescuing the film from being a total disaster.

PS" I've noticed that she has Akshaye's pics in her banner today. Thanks Beth!

My views on Akshaye Khanna

First of all, thanks for keeping this site busy with your comments when I was away.

I have watched Tees Maar Khan and my first reaction was WTF? The movie is absolutely horrid. Mainly because Farah Khan couldn't even get the basic cuts and takes right. The most elementary stage direction was non-existent. Acting was horrid from big and small actors except Akshaye and Aryan Babbar.

My first reaction again on seeing Akshaye was to say WTF? But on the whole he rocked. I have always wanted to see him in an abandoned carefree role where he's totally let loose and he delivers that here. He totally rescued the movie.

Incidentally, after watching this movie some friends and I have discussed the idea that Akshaye was brilliant in all his slightly eccentric cameos-- Salaam E Ishq, Aaja Nchle and Tees Maar Khan. He's of course less happy in straight romantic roles like Taal and others. Maybe somebody should write him a full length eccentric role and make a movie out of it. Imagine the sheer joy of having Akshaye of Salaam E Ishq or Aaja Nachle in the whole movie!

There's a disparity between a star and an actor. As a star, we all imagine Akshaye as a charming debonair and sophisticated man. As an actor however, he should be free to do any role, however silly and pull it off. As a star, this is not the movie I'd imagine him in but as an actor, he was top notch and totally brilliant.