Wow. This looks like one of the best movies Akshaye has made in a while. Probably, the best after DCH and Gandhi--My Father.
Update: I have read speculation on net that this movie is based on Mississippi Burning. I haven't seen the movie but from the reviews it appears that the role Akshaye is playing is quite small compared to the other one. Sigh. Hoepfully, it gives him enough to make an impact.
I am hearing Aakrosh promos are out on Indian cable tv. Please somebody put them on youtube or at least post your reactions.
Farah Khan's TEES MAAR KHAN is already under way big time and is all set to for a Christmas release. The director of the film, Farah Khan was all praises for Akshaye Khanna, who is playing a pivotal role in the film.
Said the filmmaker, "I have worked with Akshaye Khanna in his very first film, BORDER. He has changed a lot. He has matured a lot. I don't think we have a better actor than Akshaye Khanna in our industry. He's a superb actor."
Farah Khan also feels that Akshay Khanna is very underrated. "He's highly underrated. But only he is responsible for it because he never does his own publicity. He doesn't go to parties or does photo shoots. He is very low key. But in TEES MAAR KHAN he is absolutely the surprise package," said the director.
THis certainly represents a great change from Farah's previous stance towards Akshaye. The way she's building him up, I hope these two forge a constructive relationship like the one Akshaye has with Anil Kapoor, Priyadarshan and Abbas-Mustan
TEES MAAR KHAN, which releases on 24th December 2010, also stars Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif.
Finally the most talked about Bollywood remake of The Italian Job is underway. After a long delay, director duo Abbas-Mustan have managed to get together the cast for the remake of the Hollywood superhit. The film already had Abhishek Bachchan playing the lead role but there were question marks over who would play the leading lady as no actress has been finalised. Katrina Kaif had initially agreed to sign the film but backed out due to date problems. However, the film is now scheduled to go on the floors and the remaining cast has been finalised.
Our source said, “Abhishek Bachchan will play the lead role played by Mark Wahlberg in the original film while veteran actor Dharmendra has been signed on to play the role of Donald Sutherland. Akshaye Khanna, Kunal Khemu and Neil Nitin Mukesh have been finalised to play the rest of the characters. Neil will be playing a negative role in the film for the first time and the female leads are yet to be finalised. This will be the first time that Abhishek Bachchan will work with Dharmendra in a film. Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan have worked together in umpteen films including the classic Sholay and it will be interesting to watch them onscreen sharing the same frame
Whose role do you think he'' reprise?
Apparently, there's a blograma is going on and everybody and their moms are dumping on my poor Akshoo. I'll say in my best Chris Crocker imitation though: Leave Akshoo's hair alone!
Thanks Beth for the link.
On Tuesday afternoon Anil Kapoor not known to throw open the doors for too many social occasions, hosted a very special small and intimate lunch for his co-stars of Anees Bazmi’s No Problem.
There was just one problem. The female co-stars Sushmita Sen, Kangna Ranaut and Neetu Chandra were not invited for the wrap-up lunch at Anil Kapoor’s office.
This was a bit odd considering wrap -up parties are meant for the entire crew.The ladies being a must since they add a glamour quotient.
Even the director was missing from what seems to be the most exclusive wrap-up party in the history of Indian cinema.
Says Anil stubbornly, “No no. Only Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna and I were there from the cast. There were a few other associates. But that’s it. We wanted it to be a stag party. Just so that Sanju, Akshaye and I could bond araam se, just have a boys’ afternoon.”
The “boys” spoke about things that are generally avoided when ladies are around.
So why was Anees left out?
Chuckles Anil, “How can Anees be left out? He has left for Canada to shoot with my daughter Sonam for Thank You. Anees is like family.
I’ve done three comedies No Entry, Welcome and now No Problem with him. And just when No Problem was complete he starts shooting with Sonam. So you see, there’s a family tie with Anees.”
Anil lets out that he was responsible for Anees turning director. “It happened during the shooting of Mr Azaad 16 years ago.
The director T Rama Rao was unavailable for a week. I suggested Anees who had scripted the film, take over for that one week. Even then I knew what Anees was capable of.”
Apparently Anees would also like to launch Anil’s son Harsh. Says Anil, “It’s too early to think of that. Harsh has not decided what he wants to do.”
The wrap-up party for No Problem was over-due. “We rushed back from South Africa after the shooting. We had no time for a party.
So I decided we boys should get together in Mumbai. I won’t call it a farewell party. Sanju, Akshaye and I are too close to disperse after a movie.”
So, No Problem shooting is complete. Great news.
Your best film till date? Why?
Dil Chahta Hai and Gandhi My Father. Dil Chahta Hai has established me in the industry in a new way. And Gandhi, My Father is something which I enjoyed doing.
What do you appreciate most in woman?
Kindness and silence. Beauty, of course, and cooking skills. The latter is very high on the list.
Do you have any OCDs?
I don’t like noise. I have no OCDs of the kind that will make you laugh.
What are the things that complete your days?
A good workout, especially in the outdoors. I am the one who doesn’t do a workout to lose weight, but because I love doing it, and that’s when I enjoy it.
What kind of a person were you in your childhood?
I used to be a stupid, little boy, not fully understanding the responsibility of being a professional. But now I am grown up. Films are something where you cant afford to be a pain in the ass.
Akshaye interviewed by Lola on Channel V. I don't have the video yet but go here for the transcript. It's a very amusing fun interview.
Producer Kumar Mangat Pathak and Ajay Devgn had a title clash for their next, a Priyan film. On Friday night, after a heated discussion between the two, the film was finally christened Garam Hawa.
'Garam Hawa' was apparently Paresh Rawal's suggestion. Paresh says, "Amongst all the titles, Garam Hawa had the strongest impact."
Action time
Priyadarshan says, "Initially, I was a bit sceptical about calling it Garam Hawa. My film has lots of violence and action, and the title needed to carry a strong punch. None but GH suited it best!" Akshaye Khanna echoes the thought.
Kumar Mangat informs us that there were five titles in contention. "We had selected Ardh Satya, Nishaad, Man Maani, Garam Hawa and Isshaq. The film is an action-thriller with tongue-in-cheek humor. I felt people might connect to MS Sathyu's Garam Hawa and remember that film. I liked Man Maani and Isshaq as the film revolves around a love story upon which honour killing and other plots unfold."
Ajay Devgn argues, "How many of this generation would know about MS Sathyu's Garam Hawa and relate to it? Also the film is not a love story but around the honor killing in a village and the two guys, an army and CBI officer who come to investigate it, so Isshaq would give it a different connotation. It's an action-thriller.
Make an impact
'Man Maani' sounds too frivolous and would give the impression of being another emotional comedy. I thought with the right kind of action and visuals, Akshaye and I with guns would make a tremendous impact with the title of Garam Hawa. In fact, we could even have a song in the film based around it."
Akshaye, Paresh and Priyan silently supported Ajay until Mangat reluctantly conceded defeat.
I think Akshaye will rock this movie. I'm liking his look.
Akshaye Khanna may be known to be moody but when it comes to work, he's one of the most professional actors around.
When he hurt his ankle while playing tennis on Monday, in stead of cancelling his shoot he flew down to Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu en route to Pollachi (also in Tamil Nadu) for the shooting for Priyadarshan's tentatively titled film Nishaad, which also stars Ajay Devgn, Bipasha Basu and Paresh Rawal.
Akshaye tries to play down the incident and says, "It was nothing major -- just an ankle sprain. There was no way I could cancel the shoot. The whole unit was waiting for me. I am better now than when I came. The pain is much less."
Producer Kumar Mangat says, "Akshaye hurt his ankle badly while playing tennis and was taken to Breach Candy Hospital. The doctor advised him complete rest for a few days but Akshaye ignored his doctor's warning and decided to come to Pollachi for the shoot. Akshaye understood it was a big combination shoot and that we had got permission to shoot at the dam in Pollachi for only three days. If he had cancelled, I would suffer major losses."
Akshaye landed at Mumbai airport on Tuesday night, went aboard his plane in a wheelchair and was taken to the shoot in a wheelchair to avoid pressure on his ankle as much as possible. Mangat says, "Hats off to Akshaye. He was in great pain but he shot on Wednesday till 5 pm and then drove down from Pollachi back to Karaikudi in five hours. He had to keep taking painkillers. Akshaye is a big star and could've cancelled his shoot. Smaller actors throw tantrums and cancel shoots but he knows it's an expensive film. We will shoot several action scenes in the next 20 days."
Kumar Mangat adds that he has a doctor on call from the local dispensary in case of any injuries on the sets. "There's always an ambulance and doctor on the set and fire control units."
Akshay Kumar has been on the receiving end of smses meant for Akshaye Khanna; he is fed up of the mix-up.
Having a namesake does have a share of disadvantages, and Bollywood has weathered its fair share of mixups . Feroz Abbas Khan, the director of Gandhi My Father , often spoke about how he received messages meant for actor Feroz Khan. Director Sanjay Gupta and his namesake , a cinematographer, also went through that problem. Ditto jewellery designer Farah Khan Ali and director Farah Khan.
The latest to be involved in an identity goof up are actors Akshay Kumar and Akshaye Khanna. Akshay, who is shooting at Mehboob Studios for Patiala House, has been receiving messages from an assistant called Nikki all through last week. One message reads, Sir it is a 2pm shift at Film City tomorrow. Another says, Sir, what would you like to eat for lunch Initially, Akshay was puzzled by the messages until he finally realised that they were meant for Akshaye Khanna, who is shooting at Film City. Incidentally, Akshaye and Akshay are co-stars in Anees Bazmees Thank You, as well as Farah Khans Tees Maar Khan.
Confirming the news, Akshay Kumar says, I figured this particular assistant had fed my number against Akshaye Khannas name in his cell phone. The messages have been coming religiously, many times. However, Im now wondering that if Im getting all of Akshayes shooting alerts, how is he managing to reaching his shooting on time And I dont know how many of my messages are being delivered to him.
Anees Bazmee's Thank You? Is that a new film?
Farah Khan and Shirish Kunder's maiden home production - Tees Maar Khan - is all set to go on floors from 1 March, 2010.
The film has been written by Kunder and will be directed by Khan. It stars Akshay Kumar, Akshay Khanna and Katrina Kaif in lead roles. According to a source close to the development, the three actors have already done a photo shoot for the film at Mehboob Studios on 20 January, 2010.
Speaking to Businessofcinema.com, Kunder says, "Tees Maar Khan will go on floor in March. The first schedule of the film will be shot on a set in Mumbai. Besides Mumbai, the film will also be shot in Malshej Ghat."
Kunder informs that the film is being readied for a Christmas 2010 release and will hit screens on 24 December.
After directing a host of films for his banner, Maruti Films, Indra Kumar is set to direct a film for an outside banner after a long gap. He is directing a film for Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision. Apparently, the working title of the film is 3 Losers.
Confirming the news, Indra says, “What is wrong with that? Sometimes you should make a film with others too. Anyway, I am making Double Dhamaal for my banner. I just thought that making two films for our banner will be very difficult. Moreover, Ashtavinayak was keen to make the film with me and the subject was very interesting. So I said, ‘why not?’ I will be making both the films simultaneously once the dates work out. We will go on the floors sometime in the middle of this year.”
Commenting about the title of the film, Indra says, “My film has four heroes and one more actor remains to be cast, so how can the title of the film be
3 Losers? We are yet to find a title. The film will star Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Govinda and Akshaye Khanna. The heroines are yet to be finalised.”
When asked if his production partner Ashok Thackeria supported his decision to work outside their banner, he says, “Of course. I would not do anything without consulting him. My last film was Dhamaal (2007) which was made around two-and-a-half years ago.
After that, we have been trying to work on different subjects.”
The cast already has Abhishek Bachchan and Neil Nitin Mukesh, while Akshaye Khanna and Kunal Kapoor are being brought in to play the other male leads.
Rohit Jugraj, who’s writing the screenplay for the yet untitled film, says he has improvised on the original. “Though the producers, TV 18, and Abbas Mustan have bought the remake rights, we’ve changed the Hindi version of The Italian Job considerably. For one, the stakes for the heist are much higher. The situations, fights and adventures are all different - and so are the characters.”
A former Ram Gopal Varma associate who directed James and Superstar, Jugraj admitted that the desi version does have two major female characters. “The original only has Charlize Theron’s character. We’ve written in two female parts. As for Priyanka and Katrina playing the roles, right now I’m not authorised to confirm the cast.”
But reliable sources insist the two divas are indeed on board. When contacted, all Abbas (of Abbas Mustan) was willing to say was, “There are a lot of changes in the script. But in spirit our The Italian Job will remain the same. So far, we’ve not locked in the entire cast. But we’re definitely in serious talks with all the names (Katrina, Priyanka) you’ve mentioned. It’s a very big project and we need to get the biggest names in place before we start.”
The film, which will also be shot in Russia and England, goes on the floors in mid-2010.
Wow. This is a dream come true. I wanted Akshaye to star in a remake from the moment I saw the movie. I bet he'll be playing Edward Norton's villain character. But I'd prefer to be surprised and want to see him in the lead roles, not as a villain. Hope this also means there is a patch up between him and Abbas-Mastan.
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