Akshay Kumar Q&A

7 April 2011

Akshay Kumar is back on the big screen this week with his new movie Thank You - which also stars Sonam Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Irrfan Khan, Suneil Shetty, Celina Jaitley and Rimi Sen.

- Talking about 'Thank You' being a family entertainer, it must be tricky to sell a movie about infidelity to families, isn't it?

Your right it is, which is why humour is a God send to all problems. It’s still most definitely a family movie, it may be about infidelity but even kids will find the scenarios hilarious.

If anything, it’s not the kids we should be worried about anyway, it’s the adults - this film will have the women running to the cinemas with curiosity and concern, and the men running out of the cinemas with fear and panic, believe me, this movie is going to open a few eyes in a few households around the world for sure. Sorry guys but some of you have it coming.

Everyone knows it’s not often you come across an all round comedy entertainer with such a strong message for the masses as well as the (shall we say) intellectual.

So lap it up and enjoy a movie about the everyday common battles between dirty husbands and gullible wives.

Please do not take any of this or the film the wrong way. None of us are accusing all men of being dogs, just some of them! And to those innocent ladies out there, if you didn’t make it so easy for men to lie to you, they probably would be too scared to, problem solved.

Men, think before you wink and ladies don’t forget some men may be dogs but remember it’s their owners they love the most.

- Also, given the kind of sensibilities that Anees Bazmee has as a director, I am sure that he would have worked on your characterisation to make it an out-and-out mass friendly film, right?

The dearly talented Mr Bazmee, the king of commercial cinema, knows exactly how, what, when and why, when it comes to entertaining the masses. He is so far away from the claws of the industry that he breathes only to please India’s masses.

He never mixes with anyone but his audience and his family, and I love that about him. He’s a man’s director, his sensibilities and comedy timing are outstanding in the cinema world, and the way he has made my character is too good. Seriously, I can’t tell you how brilliantly he’s made this movie fit like a glove.

- So while there are Bobby Deol, Irrfan Khan and Suniel Shetty in the film, you complete the quartet. Tell me honestly Akshay, with you in the film, do we really get to see much of the other three actors?

Suniel Shetty, Irrfan Khan and Bobby Deol have such brilliant roles in this film. My character wouldn’t even exist if it wasn’t for these three frivolous doggies who literally run riot in this film.

They have done a superb imitation of playing out the average man’s motto of ‘One woman just isn’t enough’. The way they convince their wives is hilarious and that’s where I come in. I’m like the Indo-Canadian marriage detective, I set up men so their partners catch them doing what only dirty doggies do, I am definitely the cause of their scenes but these guys create and rule their scenes.

I am exactly what you said - I am one fourth of the team. Suniel, Irrfan and Bobby are a great threesome, I am just the cherry that makes their naughty adventures even sweeter.

- In fact I remember that around a decade back, after the release of 'Hera Pheri', Suniel Shetty had expressed displeasure over you hogging all the limelight. Still, you both were reunited in many more films after that, including your last outing 'De Dana Dan'. Was that a result of some honest chat between the two of you that got rid of all the misunderstandings?

Suniel Shetty is a loved actor and comedian, and comedians don’t feel displeasure, they make jokes instead. We’ve done so many movies together now, we’ve been co-stars more than many others in our industry by now.

Ask anyone, they will tell you we always greet each other with the biggest, toughest of hugs, he’s not only a respected elder to me, I think he’s the fittest and healthiest man in the business.

He’s been like a big brother to me in every film. He was probably as miffed at me hogging the limelight in Heri Pheri as I was with Katrina in Sheila Ki Jiwani. It’s with all good fun. Suniel and I are like a double malt whiskey - we taste better with each sip/movie.

- With Bobby you are reuniting half a decade after 'Dosti - Friends Forever'. Did a delay like this lead to some time in adjusting to each other or were the two of you able to hit it off immediately?

With Bobby and I there is no sense of time, we can hang out constantly and barely know we are shooting.

He’s the most laid back, chilled out, easy going actor in Bollywood, he’s like my little brother, he’s even dear friends with my Canadian family. So we just chatted and ate sushi together all day, every day.

He’s a rock star, he’s devilishly handsome, women love him, the camera loves him, and my family love him. I feel very protective of him. He’s a wonderful husband, a great father, the best brother and an adoring son, and a Dosti Forever for sure.

- As for Irrfan Khan, this is your first ever pairing with him. While you are a spontaneous actor, he is someone who is known for being methodical in approach. Did that ever lead to some uncomfortable moments for you two, as in a hardcore commercial setup he is the only actor to step in with an offbeat record?

Listen, none you have any idea how insanely funny this man is. You call me spontaneous, Irrfan Funny Khan has a comic quality that you very rarely get to witness. He has superb timing and many one in a million takes, that man blew me away in this film.

Take after take he had me in stitches. There was one shot where he had to come at me and I was supposed to hit him. His face alone was too funny, we had to re-take it I don’t know how many times, and then he walks away with the most sober look on his face, he’s too good. He really is a world class actor and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him.

- Amongst many leading ladies that you have either launched or re-established in the industry, Sonam Kapoor is the newest entrant to be paired opposite you. For someone with whom you have never shared screen space before, what kind of actor did Sonam turn out to be working with?

Sonam is very much like her mother but more so her father. She is a very family orientated young lady and extremely easy to work with in the sense that she has a very big heart and shows her beautiful side to everyone, which is a lovely quality to have.

She is very gullible herself so she was very true to her character. I could pull her leg in seconds without her even realizing. She’s a very sweet girl and has just played the most mature character of her career so far with a lot of passion and I’m proud of her for that.

Without a doubt, when Sonam’s character cries in this film she really can reduce you to tears, she’s one of those women that if a man ever hurt her I’d have to kill him, because she’s too nice to hurt, plus I know her father, that says it all really.

- Don't you ever regret the fact though that despite 'Sheila' and 'Razia' featuring you as well, it would forever be Katrina and Mallika who will walk away with all the accolades?

My dear friend, the world would be nothing without delightful women such as Katrina, Malika and Mallika AKA Sheila, Munni and Razia. I have enough songs under my belt, I think these women deserve all the accolades they get.

Remember, Bollywood would never be complete if it wasn’t for our strikingly beautiful women. They are the reason men want to dance in the first place. I for one am most definitely proud of our women. We should surely give them credit, I couldn’t imagine ‘Tees Maar Khan’ without Sheila and I’m only in it for five seconds but I will always think it’s superb.

- Talking about how 2011 has begun for you Akshay, how do you plan to cash the critical acclaim you have earned for yourself with 'Patiala House'?

I’m extremely proud of Patiala House, and I mean that very sincerely. We all knew from the beginning that it was never going to be a commercial movie, but sometimes in life when an actor and director come together, their aim isn’t to smash records or become the next mass hysteria.

Being an appreciated whisper can sometimes be enough, so long as the producers don’t suffer. I think some movies are made to be admired, to be dwelled upon and quietly remembered and cherished.

I haven’t felt the kind of love and support from my industry or our media in a long time as I have done because of Patiala House. I loved the movie and the critical acclaim was indeed much appreciated.

There was no screaming, no shouting, our movie quietly came, made many a great man cry and left the cinema halls with respect and appreciation. I am more than happy, I’m thankful.

- Thankfully though, this time around everyone has stood up and acknowledged that if Akshay wants, he can actually make a shift from his 'always an entertainer' image and do well with relatively serious cinema too. That must have been some kind of redemption for sure?

I have nothing to prove in that sense, everyone knows I am capable of serious cinema, my track record proves that with Waqt for example. It’s me, I chose not to make many serious movies as I know serious cinema and mass collections do not often mix, if ever for that fact.

I believe in commercially entertaining, that is where the happiness of audiences and producers comes in. They deserve success as much as anyone, plus I enjoy entertaining.

Don’t get me wrong, once in a blue moon I yearn to do something that pushes the boundaries of not only my skills but of the cinema world also, but with critical acclaim comes loss at the Box Office.

No one deserves to lose. With a story like Patiala House I couldn’t refuse. I cried in the script reading itself, I truly wanted to make the film, but now I am excited to go back to hearing people laugh in my films rather than sniffing and sobbing.

It won’t be forever, but I need a good comedy like Thank You to surprise my fans again, but I will never turn my back on serious cinema, sometimes it can be the greatest work
in one’s career.

- On the other hand isn't it ironic that box office and appreciation don't quite go hand in hand always. Does that annoy or amuse you?

It’s completely understandable and it happens not only in Bollywood but in Hollywood also. How many times do you see an Oscar winning movie smash records at the Box Office, not many let me tell you. Recently The Kings Speech, remarkable film, how many Average Joe’s do you know that went to see it and appreciated it?

Exactly, but it will go down in cinematic history and quite rightly so. The biggest movie of all time, Avatar, didn’t even win an Oscar for Best Film! It’s the way the system works and I have to agree with it, commercial cinema should be treated with a commercial response, artistic cinema should be treated like art, loved and admired for centuries even, but doesn’t quite belong in everyone’s household.

It’s the same in sport, it’s not necessarily the person with the best track record that gets loved the most, sometimes it’s the sportsman with the biggest personality that’s adored forever more. It’s just the way it works.

Thank You is released 8th April.