Akshay and Sanjay Dutt's faceoff is legendary

By Taran Adarsh The film has been making news, right from its inception. It stars some of the biggest names in the business: Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar, Zayed Khan, Katrina Kaif and Lara Dutta. Australia sensation Kylie Minogue makes her debut in a Bollywood film (she has scenes too, besides the song). It has music by A.R. Rahman, lyrics by Abbas Tyrewala and sound recording by Resul Pookutty. All brands! Most importantly, it's produced by Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision, a production house that has earned tremendous respect for their fair dealings and larger than life movies: BHAGAM BHAG, GOLMAAL, MAINE PYAAR KYUN KIYA, JAB WE MET, KIDNAP and GOLMAAL RETURNS. It can't get bigger than that. BLUE is indeed hot, piping hot! Now here's something that caught everyone by surprise. It's not directed by a Ratnam or a Dhawan or a Bazmee. It's directed by a rank newcomer - Anthony D'Souza - who hasn't assisted anyone before. "Actually, John (Abraham) put me on to Ashtavinayak. They heard the script (of BLUE) and arranged for a meeting with Dutt-saab (Sanjay Dutt). The rest is history, " Anthony tells me. In fact, Tony, as Anthony is called, had penned the script keeping Sanju and Akshay in mind. "When Dutt-saab heard the narration, he asked me who'd play the other lead and I said, Akshay. Dutt-saab was too gracious, he said he was very keen to work with Akshay (they hadn't worked together after AMAANAT) and if need be, he'd call him up, " Tony reminisces. The very first meeting with Akshay also proved fruitful, with the actor agreeing to act in the film instantly. "All he asked was, will you shoot the way you've penned it? I can never forget Dut-saab and Akshay's deed. Had it not been their 'Yes', BLUE would've been in cold storage, " the first-time director smiles. But their faceoff is legendary. In fact, it's said that Akshay felt cheated during AMAANAT (he got sidelined) and swore, never to work with Sanju again. "In fact, Akshay asked me to watch AMAANAT, to see how good their chemistry was in that film. Believe me, there was not an iota of bitterness. You know something, both would come on the sets half-an-hour early everyday, sit together and exchange notes. The bonhomie was electrifying, trust me, " Tony clarifies. What about John? The guy who put Tony on to the producers, isn't part of the film. "It was always Zayed. In fact, Dutt- saab especially called up Zayed and spoke to him about BLUE. As for John, he's sure to star in my next film. I owe him that, " Tony smiles.

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Is Akshay Kumar overdoing comedy in his films?

The shocking downfall of Nikhil Advani's Chandni Chowk To China has put a huge question mark on Akshay Kumar's ongoing comic journey. Most of his well-wishers in the industry seriously wish him to end his protracted attempts at comedy.

Says a director who has worked with Akshay, "Akshay Kumar has become progressively active in the process of writing scripts and shooting films. He freely makes suggestions some of which, I've to admit, are good. But quite often he wants to take over the project. When I went to him with another project he offered to co-produce it and get someone to re-write portions. It's obvious a lot of scenes in Chandni Chowk were re-written. The result shows."

Apparently, the Chandni Chowk To China writer Sridhar Raghavan was persuaded to continuously change the scenes until the writer (known for his skilled screenplay in Raj Santoshi's film) was a helpless puppet propelling the plot to destinations-unknown.

However, Akshay's staunch producer-director friends are more than happy to stand by him.

Akshay's next crucial release Kambhakht Ishq has very little of the comic element. "It's an out-and-out rom-com with stunts of an international order," informs producer Sajid Nadiadwala proudly." And why are we jumping the gun just because one of his films hasn't lived up to expectations? There could be so many reasons for it. Why should Akshay be blamed for it? Why so much negativity about him? Is he the first superstar to disappoint audiences?"

Sajid shoots down rumours of seriously revamping the comic element in Kambhakht Ishq. "Why would I do that? The film is what it is. I don't work with my actors based on how their last film did. Kambhakht Ishq will have a lot to offer."

However, on the downside Akshay's pairing with Kareena Kapoor has hardly ever worked, their last few films being Suneel Darshan's Talaash, Dharmesh Darshan's Bewafaa and Yash Raj Films' Tashan.

Vipul Shah's film with Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai which he launches in March is also not a comic romp. "But I don't think the failure of Chandni Chowk To China means that audiences have rejected him in the comic avatar. The backlash is totally uncalled-for. And it looks motivated by reasons other than the box-office. A lot of people have been waiting to pounce on Akshay. This is their opportunity," Vipul Shah defends his hero stoutly.

It is believed that apart from Priyadarshan's De Dana Dan which is an out-and-out comedy, Akshay Kumar forthcoming projects will seriously cut down or downplay the comic element.

"It's the Govinda factor at work again," says a director who wants to remain unnamed. "He did so much buffoonery on screen, Govinda made people forget there was more to him than meets the eye."

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Revealed: Shilpa's emotional talk with Jade

When on Monday Shilpa Shetty was told that her former Big Brother colleague Jade Goody had been detected with cancer, Shilpa didn't know how to react. "I was shocked and confused. I was filled with so many emotions. No matter what happened at Big Brother I had spent considerable time with her in the House. I felt really bad for her. Now I know why I couldn't recognize her when I met her. Life has put her through so much, she had changed, " says a subdued Shilpa. Shilpa immediately wanted to meet Jade. "But she had to be whisked away immediately from Lonavla on Monday. Early Tuesday morning she had her flight from where she had to be taken for chemotherapy in London." Shilpa got Jade's phone number and spoke to her on the airport just before the stunned Big Boss candidate left for London. It was an incredibly emotional experience for Shilpa, free of rancour. "Speaking to her was not easy. It was very tough. There was never any rancour, " says Shilpa. "Yes, I was hurt when in the Big Brother House she made some comments about our country. But even in the House we had made peace after the initial rancour. Once I was out of the House, the media went to town and she got the brunt of it." Shilpa tried all the time to pacify the world press. "Believe me, it was really sad when Jade was slammed. I never wanted become a champion of the third- world at her cost." Interestingly the channel Colors had asked Shilpa before inviting Jade Goody to be a contestant on Big Boss. "Yeah when the channel decided on Jade they asked me if it was okay with me. If I had any ill feelings towards her I'd have said no to Jade. But the truth is, there was no ill feelings towards Jade. My only precondition was that Jade should be treated well at Big Boss. I knew how it felt when to go into a foreign country and be in a hostile situation (Big Brother). To my delight the Big Boss contestants were very nice to Jade.I felt so proud to see how she was treated. It just reiterated the fact we Indians are very forgiving and welcoming." Shilpa is shocked by the cynicism of those who think this to be a TRP gambit. "Jade's illness is not gimmick. She must've done pap-smear before coming to India. How would she know the tests would be so damning?" Now Shilpa plans to meet Jade. "I only had a chance to speak to her before she left.I will meet her when I go to London for the Unforgettables tour with the Bachchans next week."

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