New Delhi: After starring in a number of comedies and a few emotional dramas, the original Khiladi of Bollywood, Akshay Kumar, says it feels great to return to his pet genre with Rowdy Rathore.
A remake of Telugu film Vikramarkudu, the first look of Rowdy Rathore, with its hand-painted seventies-style posters and slogans like ‘Faulad ki Aulad’ and ‘Ilaka tera dhamaka mera’, has generated enough curiosity already.
In Desi Boyz, Kumar plays an Indian who loses his job in and is forced to become a male escort. Reuters
“I am returning to action after six years. The film has been visualised by the director in a manner which is reflected in the posters and the slogans. It’s a great feeling to be doing an action film again,” Kumar said.
Rowdy Rathore, starring Sonakshi Sinha in the female lead, is directed by Prabhudeva and produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It is slated to hit theatres next June.
Akshay is having one of his busiest years ever with films like Joker and Housefull 2 already in production and Desi Boyz releasing next week. ”I don’t remember any year in my career of 20 years which has not been busy as I have given 3-4 films to the industry each year. I am about to start working in the sequel to Once Upon a Time In Mumbai next.”
The 44-year-old actor is currently looking forward to Desi Boyz, where he plays an Indian who loses his job in Europe due to recession and is forced to turn into a male escort. ”It is based on a real-life incident where a Pakistani and an Indian guy, who used to stay together, lost their jobs due to recession and became male escorts.” John Abraham, Deepika Padukone and Chitrangda Singh also star in the film directed by Rohit Dhawan, son of comedy king David Dhawan.
The actor says he was a bit surprised on being approached by the debutant director to play the role of a male escort. ”I was a bit taken aback as I don’t think any Hindi film actor has played a male escort so far,” said Akshay.
But the actor says he wasn’t apprehensive about taking up a film by a newcomer as he has delivered many hits with new directors in his career. ”I have given a lot of hit films with newcomers, like Mohra and Khiladi. I have acted in films by Sajid Khan, Vipul Shah, Guddu Dhanoa when they were new. I have done more films with new directors, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that this film also turn out to be a success,” said Akshay.
Desi Boyz has Akshay teaming up with John after Garam Masala (2005) and the former says that their onscreen chemistry is even better this time. ”I had more fun working with John in this film rather than Garam Masala. We are good friends now. After doing 120 films, I have realised if the actors have a good time working in the film, it reflects on screen. We share a better chemistry in this one.”
He is paired opposite Chitrangda for the first time and Akshay says, “She is a fantastic actress and a very stunning girl. She reminded me of Smita Patil when I saw her first. She is a true Indian beauty.”
PTI
