‘Why didn’t they cast me?’
Akshaye Khanna says he is upset with filmmakers like Farhan Akhtar and Abbas Mustan for not offering him new movies even after giving them hits
Akshaye Khanna is quite candid when it comes to admitting his anger towards certain filmmakers in the industry. He is miffed with the directors who didn’t further offer him films, despite him giving them hits for their previous project together.
Ask him about Farhan Akhtar and Abbas-Mustan, who’re making films without him in the cast and Khanna reiterates, “Of course, I’m angry with all of them.”
However, when probed about the reason, the actor smiles and simply says, “That’s something you should ask Farhan and others, instead of me.”He, however, is quick to admit his fondness for the men in white.
“Abbas-Mustan are my favourite directors because I’ve done more films with them. If you ask me whether I’m doing a cameo in Race 2, the answer is no. But yes, I do terribly miss being involved in the Race sequel. When any filmmaker I’ve worked with, doesn’t cast me again, I do get angry,” he reiterates.
Character callingNonetheless, Akshaye is looking forward to Rumi Jafry’s Gali Gali Chor Hai, in which he is cast as Bharat, a bank cashier who also plays Hanuman in the local Ram Leela.
Recalling his fascination with the “slice of life story of the simple guy caught in the system” he says, “What appealed to me was the beautiful and entertaining way this story is narrated. The poor fellow loses everything for no fault of his, but it’s told in such a funny manner as the system sweeps him off like a tidal wave and
he can’t put up any defence against it is a superb achievement of the writing.”
Interestingly, Khanna modelled Bharat’s shocked and surprised look on noted cartoonist RK Laxman’s Common Man. “When I heard the script, I told producer Nitin Manmohan and Rumi that the expression on my face throughout the film should be similar to Laxman’s popular character. He’s always peeping from behind, shocked at what is happening around him. Because Bharat is as shocked by what the system does to him, as he’s too small to fight against it,” explains the actor.
At a time when younger actors like Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan are talking about their filmmaking aspirations, Khanna confesses that he doesn’t have any. “I’m not interested in directing or producing movies,” he asserts, adding, “Acting is enough to satisfy my creative urges. I’m more than happy sticking
to it than venturing behind the camera.”
Hiren Kotwani
Mid Day