Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; February 27, 2015)

Akshay Kumar on why he won’t chase festival release dates, but will continue to chase people pooping outside his house....
Sarita A Tanwar (DNA; February 6, 2015)


You are the man of the moment. Baby is holding steady even in the second week. How does it feel?
It feels good. First of all, it was a honour to work with Neeraj Pandey again. He makes very good movies. He extracts stories from reality and puts them together. He is not the kind of director who watches Hollywood DVDs and makes films. He is one of the very few original writers who pens a script from his mind and makes the film. He doesn’t believe in taking inspiration from other films. His films always have a message. He is a very honest director and I feel lucky that I got a chance to work with him.

As Ajay Singh Rathore, you didn’t step out of the character even once. Knowing that you love to improvise on the sets, was this tough? Did you have to work hard on that or did you just follow Neeraj’s vision?
I just followed him. There are some movies which need improvisation like a Housefull. Even a Hera Pheri, it needs improvisation. There are some films like these where it happens... Or like when I played a cop’s role in Rowdy Rathore, then I get to improvise. But not in a film like Baby, which revolves around a sensitive and a real incident. You cannot go out of your character. I am lucky enough to work with different kinds of directors.

You have suddenly started being part of what is considered good cinema. Apart from still being part of hardcore commercial films. What’s the thought behind that?
That’s what I have done all my life. I did Special 26, 8X10 Tasveer, OMG! Oh My God...What happens is with my career, I always try to do different kinds of subjects. I don’t want to be having just one image, like after this I am doing Housefull. I think it started with Sangharsh. I used to do commercial films before because I didn’t have the mindset to do any other kind of cinema. I couldn’t relate to that, plus at that time, I just wanted to earn money and that would come only with commercial cinema. But now I am in a position where I can take risks. I can cut my price into half and do a small film with the subject of my liking, which will give me critical acclaim because it all depends on me. I am doing a film called Airlift. It’s a very serious film and I can do it now. To me nothing else matters if I like a script, I just do it. I experiment a lot with myself.

You have never had a Diwali or a Eid release. Deliberate?
I have three to four releases in a year. I am not going to wait for a Diwali release, have those big releases... I want to release my films whenever they are ready. It does matter with those kind of dates. There are too many people aiming for those festival dates, so I don’t hanker after them.

But big festival holidays ensure big bucks. Why would you not want your films to release then?
They should. But it all depends on my producers, when my films are ready and what date they want to release it. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I finish my films very fast and it doesn’t make sense for my producers to wait till the festival season at the end of the year to release their films. Like, I just started Brothers and it’s almost done. I am exactly 10 days away to finishing it. I finished Main Gabbar in August, 2014. Finshed means there is no shooting left. We decided to make Brothers somewhere around September last year and we are through with it.

Was Baby the most physically exhausting film you have done?
No, Baby was not exhausting. Brothers is exhausting. It has been the most physically exhausting film I have ever worked on. The action was tough and I reharsed a lot because it was a different kind of action. Also, I had to lose a lot of weight for this role. It’s a very physical part, not emotionally draining.

Which role left you emotionally drained?
No, I am not that kind of an actor who gets into the character so much. I just don’t get too deep into a role to affect me once I leave the set. I personally feel that actors fake it when they say that they got depressed after doing a role. I don’t know what actors mean when they say ‘Arey yaar, main character ke andar itna ghoos gaya hoon that I cannot come out. It’s taken me three months to come out of the character.’ I can understand if they say they were affected for a day or two perhaps... I remember reading about this scene between Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. They had a scene together where Pacino had to pant as if he had come running and deliver his lines to De Niro. So, Pacino went a long distance, ran and came running but when he reached his spot, he forgot his lines. Again he went back and ran a kilometre and he messed up his line. So then he was about to go behind and De Niro caught his hand, and said “Listen now can you try acting?’’ My approach is the same. Act like you have run and come. You don’t have to actually run. So don’t get into the part to the point it spills into your life. It’s called acting. So just act!

So you are saying no role has ever affected you that much?
I have played many disturbing characters whether it’s Sangharsh or Janwaar... and nothing affected me more than a day. If you see Marlon Brando, all these big actors, the so-called kings of acting, you will never hear them talking like this. It’s okay I can understand if you say that I am still feeling that character for a day... but after that, chal na, abhi khatam ho gaya.

You’ve spent over 20 years and done over 130 films — does the release of a new film still bring the butterflies?
Yes it does. And if it doesn’t work, then I am sad but only till Monday night. After that I have to carry on. I remember talking to Mr. Amitabh Bachchan about this long back, I don’t know whether he would remember it. But I said to him, ‘Sir, kabhi kabhi films nahi chalti, how does one deal with that?’ He said ‘Akshay, no problem, look straight, carry on ahead, work for your next film. Don’t take it too seriously.” When an actor of that caliber says: Don’t take it to your heart, otherwise you won’t be able to work for your next movie. You’ll destroy the next person’s film and points out that there is nothing you can do. It didn’t work, it didn’t work; you have to go ahead.

You’re the only actor from your generation to sport a salt-and-pepper look on and off-screen.
Why should I hide it? I have been working for the last 25 years. I am in my 40s. I have salt and pepper hair and stubble. Why should I hide it? I am even ready to age on screen. People should stop asking actors these questions. Why is this thinking only here? Why is it a problem? Everyone follows the west, so why not when it comes to this? Tom Cruise plays a old man in Tropic Thunder, he plays a old, fat, bald Jewish guy. I loved that. Why can’t we have that here?

Also, while most other actors of your generation shy away from working with younger heroes, you’re the first one to take the plunge with Brothers, where you share screen with Sidharth Malhotra.
Again, look in Hollywood, no one questions this aspect. You see the biggest of actors does one-minute roles in films. If a guy is making a film and if there is a small three-minute role also, the biggest of actors do it. I want to change that thought. And I can try and change it with my actions. So I am doing Brothers and am open to doing more such films. The role has to be good. Who else is in the film, how big is his role should not matter.

Over the last few years, you’ve had three-four releases a year. Are you planning to continue doing that?
I will continue to do all kinds of films. So I will balance serious films with a Housefull 3. Because if all I do are serious films, I will become a very depressed person. I can’t do that. I need my Sajid-Farhad and I need to laugh, I need my Riteish Deshmukh... But yes, to answer your question, I will continue making three-four releases a year. I have been doing that from the beginning of my career. It’s not a new thing.

Even SRK, Aamir and Salman did that at the beginning of their careers, but not once they became superstars.
Yes, that’s changing now. And it will change more.

You think they’ll do more films every year now?
Let’s not get into that.

Shubha Shetty-Saha (MID-DAY; February 5, 2015)

Although looking frail and tired — he lost eight kg in the last three months to get rid of the weight that he had gained for Gabbar — Akshay Kumar’s eyes gleam while talking about the rave reviews that his last release Baby has received. The always so down- to- earth star talks about how luck played a huge role in his life and how he still won’t compromise to get an award. Excerpts from an interview:

One of those rare occasions when your film has got critical acclaim. Baby is also doing well at the box office.
(laughing) It’s the first time that a film of mine has been given four-and-a-half and five stars by critics. I don’t know whether I will get awards for my performance, but I am sure about being nominated. It’s been two weeks since the movie released and I am still getting messages about people appreciating it. It’s a really nice feeling when you and the people associated with a movie are happy. The entire credit goes to the director of the film, Neeraj Pandey. The director truly is the captain of the ship.

Are you expecting awards for your performance?
Milta hai achcha hai (It will be nice if I get it). If the award process is fair, then why not? Awards do make sense. But I won’t get desperate and compromise to get them. In the past, there have been times when I was asked to perform at an event and slash my price by half to receive an award, but I categorically told them that they give me the entire amount and keep the award. These things happen. You and I know about it.

One must give you credit for mostly choosing the right kind of roles over the last few years.
I have always done that, right from my Sangharsh days. Just that sometimes it doesn’t work. I make a conscious effort to choose roles which are not only commercial viable, but also have substance. For instance, I am now going to start shooting for Airlift from 25th of this month and I am truly excited about it. For 12 years of my career since I started, I just concentrated on making money, so I did every movie that came my way. Once I was happy with my bank balance, I started doing films which gave me happiness and made me want to go on the sets.

Tell us about Airlift.
The film is about India’s air evacuation exercise when Saddam Hussain attacked Kuwait. There were about 1,48,000 Indians in the country and the Indian army went to the war zone and evacuated all of them within a period of six days. This event was a record of sorts and finds a mention in The Guinness Book of World Records. You have to watch it to believe it.

Your other film Main Gabbar is ready, so why is the release delayed?
We are releasing it on May 1. In the film, I play a vigilante officer who fights corruption in his unique way. The issue is that my films complete on time however we wait for suitable dates so that there is at least a three-month gap between two of my releases. I will finish shooting for Brothers in next 10 days. I believe that if you put in decent working hours on any project, you can finish the film in 65-70 days. I don’t work all the time. I take Sunday off, work for half a day on Saturday and take many holidays in between, but it’s all about discipline. One just needs to jot down what they want to get done on a particular day and stick to it. Just don’t be lazy.

Agreed. Discipline has played a major role in your success.
You have seen me from the initial days. I have been so lucky.

Luck only played a part.
I must admit the credit also goes to the fact that I never give up. I have faced many failures and more often than not, things have not gone as I wished they would, but I continued working. I think luck played a huge role in my life. People might argue otherwise, but it’s a fact. Even today when I walk into a studio I see actors with better looks, dancing skills and physique, struggling but I still have so much work and they don’t.

Are you part of the new season of Masterchef?
No. I have not been approached.

Baby is not part of the Rs 100 crore club yet.
It will take time. See it is a two hour 35 minute long film with no songs. It is not a typical commercial film. So it will take time.

BOMBAY TIMES (February 4, 2015)

BOMBAY TIMES (January 15, 2015)

Sanjay Leela Bhansali admits that Main Gabbar is far from a typical Bhansali film and insists that's the reason he is all the more excited about it. The filmmaker opens up about the action entertainer, which releases this summer, and all his other films in the pipeline. Excerpts:

Main Gabbar is quite an unusual offering from Bhansali Productions. What prompted you to produce it?
As an artiste, I wanted to explore a new genre and since action entertainers are not my forte, I decided to back them as a producer. Main Gabbar is a commercial out-and-out action film and one that I personally find entertaining. It also marks my return with Shabinaa Khan after the success of Rowdy Rathore.

Besides the action thriller and Bajirao Mastani, what are the films on your slate this year?
A lot of interesting films are in the pipeline. We will soon make a formal announcement and put all speculation to rest. We also have a new CEO, Shobha Sant, who will streamline the production house's endeavours.

You've enjoyed a good run with the success of Rowdy Rathore, Ram-Leela and Mary Kom. How does it feel to be among the most successful producers?
I'm humbled and thankful to the audience for all the love and support. This is the best cinematic time of my life. I'm doing interesting films and working on my dream projects.