New Delhi, March 16: After doing back-to-back comedies last year, it looks like Bollywood star Akshay Kumar is hell bent on making 2008 his year of actioners.
According to sources, Actor Akshay Kumar is all set do a film for Producer Sajid Nadiadwala's 'Kambakth Ishq', where he would play a Hollywood stuntman and the film would be shot in the Universal Studios.
The film will be directed by a new Director Sabir Khan.
"This would be the first Indian film to be shot within Universal Studios. We've got the permission not only to shoot within the studio but also to use their logo. Akshay plays a stuntman from Universal Studios. We also had amazing superstars from Hollywood. We're working out the legal aspects," Nadiadwala said to a news agency.
Apart from that, Akshay will be seen in Nikhil Advani's full on action flick Chandni Chowk to China.
Kambakth Ishq is to be shot in Hollywood, Los Angeles.
"It'll also star 12-15 leading actors from Hollywood in various parts. It's a candyfloss, 'safe' film. We had to bring in an extra gloss in the backdrop. That's why Hollywood.
"When I produced Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, it was the first beach film in Bollywood. After that we had dozens of beach films in Hindi. Likewise my Jaan-e-Mann was the first romantic comedy with visual effects. While making full-on commercial films we need to change the backdrop."
Nadiadwala agrees shooting Kambakth Ishq in Hollywood won't be an easy task.
"It will be expensive, yes. We'll have 40-50 crewmembers flying to LA. We're thinking of chartering a flight from Mumbai. It'll be more economical. Or maybe we should just buy a jet," he joked.
This is Nadiadwala's most ambitious film to date with a budget of Rs 600 million. Kareena Kapoor plays a brand model.
Why a new director for such a lavish film?
"Sabir Khan has grown up in front of me. He assisted in my production Mujhse Shaadi Karogi. He is a very hardworking. And if you're suggesting that I should've first let Sabir make a smaller film then let me say I don't make small films. I've dreamt 70mm dreams from before that format was invented."
Recently, the producer has been signing a lot of new directors.
"After a lot of introspection, my company has decided that we need to continue making commercial films, but with a little deviation. That's where my three new directors Sabir Khan, Siddharth Anand and Imtiaz Ali come in. They have the discipline of commercial cinema and the ability to take cinema further.
"Siddharth's film, which will probably star Saif Ali Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, isn't the routine candyfloss film. We start at the end of 2008. Siddharth wants to do something different. So do I. It's a film set against Mumbai. It isn't a dark film. But not frothy either."
Imtiaz Ali will first direct a film for Saif's production house.
Bureau Report
