My visit to Cape Town had an unplanned meeting in store. When I learnt that Akshay Kumar was shooting there, I sent him a text message. I was pleasantly surprised when he called the next morning asking me to accompany him to the sets of 8 X 10. We had a long chat in his car while he was on his way to the shoot. Excerpts from the interview:
• What is the title of this film? Some say that it is titled Tasveer while others say that it’s titled 8 x 10.
It’s 8 x 10. I have had some wonderful experiences with films like Tashan and Talash so no more films starting with the letter T for me.
• You are playing a superhero in the film?
I am not playing somebody like Superman or Spiderman. I have never played a character which is remotely close to my character in 8 X 10. I have superpowers but it’s more psychological much like having a sharp sixth sense rather than physical.
• You have always wanted to do an offbeat film. Is that the reason that you are working with Nagesh?
I have never taken a conscious decision as such. I was offered quite a few offbeat films earlier but I never liked the script. But this time the script was fantastic. I went for it as soon as I heard the film’s subject.
• There are rumours that a lot of reshoot has to still be done for Chandni Chowk to China.
I don’t know why and from where do these things come up. Just a couple of days ago, I had also read about 8 x 10 being shelved. But here you are with me in Cape Town and I am on my way to the location of 8 X 10. Most of the journalists who I have met have been very responsible and always double check their news while some only create nuisance. I only want to tell my audience through this interview that please don’t pay attention to baseless rumours.
• Now that you are a top star, do you think people are waiting to pull you down?
It always happens. There are very few people who do not pull people down who are on the top. All I can do is continue working and wish that my work gets appreciated and my hard work pays off.
• There is a war between you and Shah Rukh Khan for the top position.
There is no war for supremacy but a struggle for more money to be pumped into the industry. That’s the whole idea and I was speaking to SRK about this when we recently met at a party. You are asking about the war as if hamare beech Mahabharat chhid gayi hai! (Laughs).
• At one point of time you were written off as an actor.
I am still trying to act as it’s an ongoing process. For example, I am working with Nagesh and still trying to understand his point of view and follow it. Tomorrow if you become a director, it will be the same.
• You are charging a large sum these days.
Main bahut kuchh lena chahta hoon kyunki mein bahut kuchh deta hoon ( I want to demand a lot because I give a lot)
• What is the exact figure that you are charging per film now?
I don’t speak about figures as I am married now. And I don’t want to limit myself by putting any number to it.
MUMBAI MIRROR
|
