06
scream at everybody. I have known
H
eard you have turned
into a real ‘Tees
Maar Khan’ these
days flicking a lot of
things from your co-artistes and
directors?
(Smiles) Well, I do play a con man
who wants to rob a train of artifacts
but that doesn’t mean I t go about
robbing trains or people in life. It’s
just that I have learnt the art because
of my background in martial arts.
Those trained in martial arts are
generally conversant with the art of
identifying particular nerves that
benumb the area. I have mastered
this and a few other techniques.
How was it working with
Farah Khan? Is she a better
choreographer or a director?
I have worked with women directors
before. I did work with Tanuja
Chandra. But Farah is a hardcore
commercial director. My look in the
film has been designed by Farah and
COVER STORY
There was a time when
designer Akki Narula. Just as her
brother Sajid is. They are fun to work
with and have given hits. They come
from the same school of filmmaking.
Men used to be scared of her on the
sets. It used to be funny to watch her
her for such a long time so have
always been comfortable with her.
I love her as a director. I think she
should make many more films.
Tell us more about ‘Tees Maar
Khan’ and you character in the
film.
‘Tees Maar Khan’ is a fun film and
my role in it is an out and out fun
role totally different from any of the
roles that I have attempted so far.
My character in the movie can be
half compared to Robinhood. By half
I mean that he has all the qualities
of Robinhood apart from the fact
that he does not help the poor. He’s
jovial, fun-loving and can be even
compared to someone like Charles
Sobhraj. In the film, my character
wants to make it big by conning
people but he is not negative, nor
does he believe in hurting others. He
is simply intelligent and uses every
trick in the trade to fool people. He
is arrested in Paris but he manages to
escape leaving the others wondering
how he managed to. Shirish Kunder
has written the script and has not left
an iota for the audience to imagine.
Wouldn’t you like to deviate
from such films and attempt
some serious roles?
I would love to experiment with
different kinds of films. I did try it
earlier with films like ‘Sangharsh’ and
‘Tasveer 8x10’, but they didn’t work
for me. I put in a lot of hard work
hoping that I could give something
different to the audiences. I am
eager to do some serious films but
I guess there are few audiences for
such films. I can work in such films
to derive creative satisfaction as an
actor but my job is to entertain the
audiences. I should first succeed on
that front.
Are you disappointed that
your last two releases, ‘Action
Replayy’ and ‘Khatta Meetha’,
met with a disastrous response at
the box-office, though they were
both meant to be entertaining
films?
I am unable to figure out what went
wrong with these two films. I do
feel sad when my films don’t work,
DECEMBER 14, 2010, AUCKLAND
distributors and exhibitors had
no qualms about investing in
an overpriced Akshay Kumar
simply because it more than
assured them of due returns
on their investments. Akshay,
who also commanded a share
in the returns of his films, was
considered a safe bet at the
box-office with a string of hits
like ‘Heyy Babyy’, ‘Welcome’,
‘Namastey London’, ‘Bhool
Bhulaiyaa’ and ‘Singh Is Kinng’,
among others.
However, the same cannot
be said of Akshay anymore. Last
year, he gave five consecutive
flops in ‘Chandni Chowk
To China’, ‘8x10 Tasveer’,
‘Kambhakt Ishq’, ‘Blue’ and ‘De
Dana Dan’, all of which failed to
live up to expectations. The year
2010 proved to be even more
disappointing for him with two
of his major releases, ‘Action
Replayy’ and ‘Khatta Meetha’,
sinking without a trace at the
box-office. The former had the
lowest opening at the box-office
for a Diwali release. His stint on
television as a host on ‘Master
Chef India’, did not work for
him either. The only respite for
him was ‘Housefull’, which was
declared a hit at the box-office.
Keeping all these factors
in mind, trade analysts and
distributors are keeping their
fingers crossed about the fate
of ‘Tees Maar Khan’. The film
sold for a price of Rs 60 crores
to UTV, is said to be crucial for
both Akshay and its director,
Farah Khan. To start with, this
is the first time Farah Khan is
working without Shah Rukh
Khan after delivering two
blockbusters with him. Also,
considering the on-going low
phase in Akshay’s career and
the poor response to his last few
comedies, traders are keeping a
wait and watch attitude.
especially when they confirm to all
the so-called commercial norms.
But it finally depends on what the
audiences like. I work on around
four films a year and I put in the same
kind of effort in all of them, hoping
that they will prove to be big hits.
That’s because I work doubly hard on
each of them. Having said this, I have
had quite a few ups and downs in
my career too but I don’t allow these
phases to affect me.
Do you think comedies are not
selling anymore in the market?
I don’t think so. If one were to look at
the graph of successful films in the last
few years, most of the films that have
done worthy business are comedy
films. More recently, ‘Dabbang’ also
had a good does of comedy, besides
‘3 Idiots’. If anything, comedy should
be supported with a good storyline
and it is sure to work.
 08 WHAT’S UP DECEMBER 14, 2010, AUCKLAND

Success party of A Jacqueline inaugurates

Lange & Sohne ‘Teen of the year’ contest

M
umbai witnessed the success party of the German luxury watch-brand-A
Lange & Sohne. The time makers exhibited close to 15 of their most

B
coveted time pieces during the exclusive event. Among the prominent ollywood actor and goodwill
personalities present were Vivek Oberoi and Priyanka Oberoi, designers Manish ambassador of ‘Habitat for
Malhotra, Neeta Lulla and Nishika Lulla, Siddharth Mallya, actress Sameera Reddy, Humanity India’, Jacqueline
Babita Malkani, Eesha Koppikar and Timmy Narang, Aarzoo Govitrikar, Manasi Fernandez lent her support to the
Scott, Harman Baweja, Mrinalini Sharma, Bunty Walia, Shamita Shetty, Ameet ‘Teen of the year 2010’ contest
Gaurr and others. by interacting with the finalists
who came from different states
of the nation. Jacqueline has
also been a source of inspiration
to the contestants through her
article published in the Teenager
magazine’s earlier.

Premiere of ‘Shahrukh Bhupen Hazarika’s first

Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu’ music video released

A
ward winning singer, Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s music video ‘Our North-

A
grand premier of ‘Shahrukh
Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu’ was
recently held at Cinemax,
Versova. Director Makrand
Deshpande was in high spirits as
guests kept pouring in to congratulate
him on his debut venture. Among
those seen were Sudhir Pandey,
Pawan Malhotra, Kay Kay Menon,
Renuka Shahane, Mita Vashisht,
Pritika Chawala and Sanjay Dadeech.
The star attraction was Suniel Shetty
who came all the way for his friend
Makrand and obliged the shutterbugs
and guest requests for photographs.
Other guests present included Kavita
Kaushik, Swanand Kirkire, and
Daboo Malik, Vasudha Sharma, Leena
Mogre, Gisselle, Nagesh Bhonsale,
Afzal Khan and others.
East, Our Star’ was released at an event in Mumbai. The occasion
saw the presence of several celebrities from the music fraternity. Dr.
Hazarika was also presented with a memento by the producer of the video,
Sanjay Agrawal, Director of Cement Manufacturing Company Limited.
This is Dr Hazarika’s first music video in his entire career. The lyrics of
the music video have been written by Swanand Kirkire, who has won two
national awards for ‘Hazaaron Khwahishen Aisi’ and ‘3 Idiots’. The music
video has been set to tune by Shantanu Moitra, award winning composer
of films like ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ and ‘3 Idiots’. The music video will hit
the air in December.