Asin says no to Salman
Asin declines Salman's offer to star in the Hindi remake of Tamil film Kavalan since she wants to act with other stars and get serious about her Bollywood career
When Salman Khan saw glimpses of Tamil film Kavalan, starring Vijay and Asin in the lead, he was bowled over. In its Hindi remake titled, Bodyguard that is being produced by sister Alvira, he decided to cast Asin as his female lead. Asin, however, declined the offer.
After London Dreams, Khan and Asin found themselves acting opposite each other in Anees Bazmi's Ready. If she had accepted, this would have been her third film with the actor.
Asin is guarded while answering questions about the films she declined. "It isn't right to talk about what I didn't do. I've just wrapped up Kavalan. In fact, when director Siddique made the same film in Malayalan two years ago, I couldn't be part of it then too. So I promised him I'd do the Tamil version, which I have now done."
Says a source, "Asin said a polite 'no' to the Kavalan remake for two reasons: after Ghajini, where she starred in both the Telugu and Hindi version, another Telugu-to-Hindi remake seemed monotonous. Moreover, three films in a row with Salman would've sent wrong signals to Bollywood. Asin wants to work with other stars too."
A source reveals that Khan is supportive of her decision and understands that she is still new to the Hindi film industry.
"One makes wrong choices, turns down roles in films that eventually turn out to be hits. No regrets. I'd rather focus on getting my act right," says Asin.
The actress is in talks over signing a film with actor Shah Rukh Khan, and another with Saif Ali Khan.
Saif Ali Khan meets Scorcese, talks Sharmila
Saif Ali Khan was accosted by a stranger recently and it turned out to be none other than Academy award winning director Martin Scorcese.
The Bollywood heartthrob was in Marrakech when the acclaimed director came up to him to talk about his mother Sharmila Tagore. The 'Raging Bull' director, it turned out is a huge fan of Tagore's work in Satyajit Ray films like 'Devi' and 'Apur Sansar'.
"It was a surprise. He told me that he had grown up watching my mother in Satyajit Ray films and adores her. And that is amazing because he grew up in New York," said Khan who was in the city to promote the Taj Enlighten Film Society.
But despite his pedigree, the actor, eldest child of the actress and legendary cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, says that Bollywood is a true democracy where only talent counts.
"If we all had to follow our parents calling, I should have been a cricketer. Our top star Shah Rukh Khan does not
come from a filmy family, he is actually the first ever person in his family to become an actor. It's talent that matters, not your blood line," said the actor.
The 40-year-old actor who is currently shooting his home production 'Agent Vinod', a action thriller, said that he grew up watching mafia flicks, on a rented VCR at his home in Bhopal.
"I grew up between Bhopal and Pataudi and there was not much to do and those were the times when we only had Doordarshan. So I used to watch movies and I remember the genre of crime used to fascinate me, the mafia, the Sicilian clan. I used to love all that," said Khan.
The actor says that his ultimate ambition is to restore the Pataudi Palace where he grew up ang grow old in it.
"The property is very dear to me. My grandmother is buried there. It has been rented out to a hotel chain right now, who in turn rent it out for film shoots. I dream of restoring it to it's old glory and just grow old there," said Khan.
Jessica Lowndes
Akshay-Farah-Shirish come together for Tees Maar Khan 2
Roll out the red carpet and let the celebrations begin. Even though 'Tees Maar Khan' is still a couple of months away from release, the makers have already set up the film as a franchise. Not just considering it to be a one off film, Farah Khan, Shirish Kunder and Akshay Kumar are collaborating all over again for Tees Maar Khan 2. The film would go on floors in early 2012.
Confirms Farah Khan, "We have been talking about it for so many months. However, now concrete plans are being devised. Starting yesterday, we have officially started working on the film. It is a movie that we feel leads into a franchise. It is a character based comedy, something on the lines of Austin Powers and Pink Panther genre. Now something like that hasn't been done beforein India and we would be exploring an all new opportunity of introducing this genre and concept here."
'Tees Maar Khan 2' would again be a co-production between Shirish Kunder's production house 'Three's Company' and Akshay Kumar's 'Hari Om Productions'.It is a part of our earlier contract itself that since 'Tees Maar Khan' is a franchise; we can't make it without each other. The film belongs to all three of us. So yes, Akshay is definitely the leading man yet again. Even otherwise, once you have worked with Akshay, you want to work with him again. Shirish is anyways working with him in Joker, the shooting of which begins in January next year", says Farah.
While the film is being written entirely by Shirish, it is yet to be decided whether the second part of the franchise would be directed by Farah or him.
"It is still early days and currently I am just focusing on the writing process", says Shirish who has written Tees Maar Khan and before that Jaan-E-Mann, both for Akshay Kumar. "It isn't like a sudden idea that we have got after looking at the buzz that the film is generating. It was planned this way and hence the film was made character driven. This is a franchise that we are setting up and one can just let the imaginations go wild to make multiple films around the character of Tees Maar Khan."
Since Farah and Shirish are currently busy with Tees Maar Khan and Shirish would later have a super busy 2011 with back to back shooting schedules of his next two directorial ventures - Joker and Kick, Tees Maar Khan 2 would go on floors only in 2012. The film would be much bigger in scale and would be shot across the globe.
While Akshay Kumar is confirmed to lead the film's star cast, there is no decision yet on the leading lady and other supporting actors.
"The film is still being written and it has to be seen which of the characters become popular. Depending upon that, a call would be taken around the other actors. It is still early days but we are totally gung ho about making this film next", comment Shirish and Farah in unison.
Meanwhile, the countdown has begun for 'Tees Maar Khan' which is all set to find a massive release for itself this Christmas.
Source: Indian Express
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