'Every film has a different budget'
After tasting success with Housefull 2, Rowdy Rathore and 'Oh My God' last year, actor Akshay Kumar has decided to charge half his usual remuneration for his first release this year, Special Chabbis. However, he's quick to confirm that he isn't under any pressure to do so — this was a purely personal decision. "I am not worried. I don't have any kind of pressure. For me, this film (Special Chabbis) is very important and can be made in a certain budget. Every film has a different budget and a different sort of audience. Looking at the audience for this film, I have charged half my remuneration," Akshay says candidly.
"I did so because I did not want to put pressure on this film. It is a great product and I am sure people will like it — I enjoyed it. I am proud to be associated with it," he adds.
Directed by Neeraj Pandey of 'A Wednesday' fame, Special Chabbis is a heist drama film, starring Akshay, Kajal Agarwal, Jimmy Shergill, Manoj Bajpai and Anupam Kher. The movie is set in the early 1980s. It is reported that the film takes its concept from the real-life heist in 1987, when an unknown man posing as a CBI officer
executed a daylight income tax raid on a store and disappeared with jewellery worth lakhs. "Special Chabbis is a different story. It's inspired by a real story.
In 1986, there were quite a few incidents where fake CBI people looted politicians. It is a real incident and that is what attracted me to this film. To do a film based on a real incident is a different experience," says Akshay, who is playing the role of a fake CBI officer named Ajay Singh.
"Neeraj did all the homework as it's his story and screenplay. I only followed what he said. I do three or four films a year, but this is Neeraj's second film after 'A Wednesday'. He knows his work best," Akshay adds. This is also the first time he's working with Singham actress Kajal
Agarwal and is all praises for his co-star. "She is beautiful, talented and professional as she has learnt so much down South. She fitted the character very well. The bonding was very good with her. I enjoyed working with her," he smiles.
The Khiladi star also claims that he has become good friends with senior
actor Anupam Kher post shooting for the film. "I have worked with Anupam Kher in the past. I think I got a new friend in him, while doing this film. I had a great time. We became close friends. We talk every two or three days," he states.
The film will hit theatres on February 8.
'I haven't figured out how Rahman works'
Southern film-maker Mani Ratnam has had a two-decade long association with music composer A R Rahman, but says he still hasn't figured out quite how the Mozart of Madras works. Ratnam introduced Rahman in his 1992 Tamil romantic-drama Roja and has since used him as composer in all his films. Rahman has also composed the music for the forthcoming romantic-drama Kadal, written, produced and directed by Ratnam. It releases on February 1. "In my 20 years of association with
Rahman, I still haven't figured out how he works because he is full of surprises. For Kadal, he composed a song a called Moongil Thottam when I was out of town. He made me listen to the song after I returned and I was stunned," Ratnam says.
"Sometimes, he has played a few compositions to me which he claims to have composed on a flight. I wonder how he managed to compose a tune
on a flight with no instruments," adds the film-maker.
Not after box office success
Neil Nitin Mukesh has shared some intimate moments with co-star Monica Dogra in his upcoming film, 'David' and says the scenes have been shot aesthetically. "They have been done very tastefully. They are not at all vulgar. I have not done any lovemaking scenes before this but here, the script demanded it and I did it," Neil shares. Directed by Bejoy Nambiar, 'David' is an action thriller featuring Neil, Vinay Virmani and southern actor Vikram in prominent roles. The part featuring Neil has been shot in black and white. "When Bejoy told me that the scenes will be in black and white, I really wanted to be a part of it," he confesses.
Neil made his Bollywood debut with Johnny Gaddaar in 2007. He was later seen in films like Aa Dekhen Zara, 'Jail' and Lafangey Parindey. Most of his films didn't garner the success that was expected, but the actor has no regrets. "All my films are interesting. Whether they are successful at the box office or not is not in my hands. I don't think they are bad films. The films have been interesting and I am happy about them," says Neil, adding, "Every actor wants his films to be successful. But then, seeing the kinds of films which are successful now, I am happy with the films I am doing." Meanwhile, the actor has a busy year ahead with films like '3G', Ishqeria and 'Shortcut Romeo'.
After tasting success with Housefull 2, Rowdy Rathore and 'Oh My God' last year, actor Akshay Kumar has decided to charge half his usual remuneration for his first release this year, Special Chabbis. However, he's quick to confirm that he isn't under any pressure to do so — this was a purely personal decision. "I am not worried. I don't have any kind of pressure. For me, this film (Special Chabbis) is very important and can be made in a certain budget. Every film has a different budget and a different sort of audience. Looking at the audience for this film, I have charged half my remuneration," Akshay says candidly.
"I did so because I did not want to put pressure on this film. It is a great product and I am sure people will like it — I enjoyed it. I am proud to be associated with it," he adds.
Directed by Neeraj Pandey of 'A Wednesday' fame, Special Chabbis is a heist drama film, starring Akshay, Kajal Agarwal, Jimmy Shergill, Manoj Bajpai and Anupam Kher. The movie is set in the early 1980s. It is reported that the film takes its concept from the real-life heist in 1987, when an unknown man posing as a CBI officer
executed a daylight income tax raid on a store and disappeared with jewellery worth lakhs. "Special Chabbis is a different story. It's inspired by a real story.
In 1986, there were quite a few incidents where fake CBI people looted politicians. It is a real incident and that is what attracted me to this film. To do a film based on a real incident is a different experience," says Akshay, who is playing the role of a fake CBI officer named Ajay Singh.
"Neeraj did all the homework as it's his story and screenplay. I only followed what he said. I do three or four films a year, but this is Neeraj's second film after 'A Wednesday'. He knows his work best," Akshay adds. This is also the first time he's working with Singham actress Kajal
Agarwal and is all praises for his co-star. "She is beautiful, talented and professional as she has learnt so much down South. She fitted the character very well. The bonding was very good with her. I enjoyed working with her," he smiles.
The Khiladi star also claims that he has become good friends with senior
actor Anupam Kher post shooting for the film. "I have worked with Anupam Kher in the past. I think I got a new friend in him, while doing this film. I had a great time. We became close friends. We talk every two or three days," he states.
The film will hit theatres on February 8.
'I haven't figured out how Rahman works'
Southern film-maker Mani Ratnam has had a two-decade long association with music composer A R Rahman, but says he still hasn't figured out quite how the Mozart of Madras works. Ratnam introduced Rahman in his 1992 Tamil romantic-drama Roja and has since used him as composer in all his films. Rahman has also composed the music for the forthcoming romantic-drama Kadal, written, produced and directed by Ratnam. It releases on February 1. "In my 20 years of association with
Rahman, I still haven't figured out how he works because he is full of surprises. For Kadal, he composed a song a called Moongil Thottam when I was out of town. He made me listen to the song after I returned and I was stunned," Ratnam says.
"Sometimes, he has played a few compositions to me which he claims to have composed on a flight. I wonder how he managed to compose a tune
on a flight with no instruments," adds the film-maker.
Not after box office success
Neil Nitin Mukesh has shared some intimate moments with co-star Monica Dogra in his upcoming film, 'David' and says the scenes have been shot aesthetically. "They have been done very tastefully. They are not at all vulgar. I have not done any lovemaking scenes before this but here, the script demanded it and I did it," Neil shares. Directed by Bejoy Nambiar, 'David' is an action thriller featuring Neil, Vinay Virmani and southern actor Vikram in prominent roles. The part featuring Neil has been shot in black and white. "When Bejoy told me that the scenes will be in black and white, I really wanted to be a part of it," he confesses.
Neil made his Bollywood debut with Johnny Gaddaar in 2007. He was later seen in films like Aa Dekhen Zara, 'Jail' and Lafangey Parindey. Most of his films didn't garner the success that was expected, but the actor has no regrets. "All my films are interesting. Whether they are successful at the box office or not is not in my hands. I don't think they are bad films. The films have been interesting and I am happy about them," says Neil, adding, "Every actor wants his films to be successful. But then, seeing the kinds of films which are successful now, I am happy with the films I am doing." Meanwhile, the actor has a busy year ahead with films like '3G', Ishqeria and 'Shortcut Romeo'.