Akshaye in 'Autograph' remake 
By Taran Adarsh, July 20, 2005 - 05:01 IST
Guess the name of 'the film' every actor is trying to lay his hands on? It's the Tamil blockbuster AUTOGRAPH, which has been awarded the prestigious National Award along with VEER-ZAARA for best film providing wholesome entertainment. Almost every actor in Bollywood showed a keen interest to enact the main lead in this film, but the role has finally landed in Akshaye Khanna's lap.
“Yes, it's an amazing script, I am gung ho about the film,” Akshaye informs me on the sets of 36 CHINA TOWN at Pathumthani, Bangkok, Thailand. Although the Hindi title as well as the three leading ladies aren't finalized yet, Anees Bazmee, who had directed Akshaye in DEEWANGEE, will direct the Hindi remake.
You may find this hard to believe, but Akshaye went to watch the Tamil hit at a South Mumbai preview theatre with a lot of apprehensions. “I don't understand the language [Tamil] and if you don't really understand what's unfolding on screen, how are you going to be convinced about that film?” Akshaye makes a point.
But he was hooked the moment the screening [AUTOGRAPH] commenced. “I had an interpreter sitting right next to me and I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. It's an incredible movie, one of the most mind-blowing films I've seen in my life. The moment the screening ended, I told Anees that let's get started immediately,” the excitement shows when Akshaye tells me this.
Another film that has Akshaye excited is the Anil Kapoor-produced, Feroze Khan-directed film MAHATMA VERSUS GANDHI. “Mark my words, it'll rank amongst the most amazing films produced in Bollywood. I am not allowed to speak much at this stage, but I can tell you with conviction that Feroze Khan's name will be mentioned in the same breath as Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali once this film releases,” the normally reticent Akshaye seems all charged up at this stage.
I prod him to shed more light on the film. “It's made in two languages -- Hindi and English. The English version will make a round of festivals before it hits the screens… The film explores the relationship between Mahatma Gandhi and his son,” he states.
Meanwhile, Akshaye is embroiled in a controversy vis-a-vis his opting out of Sanjay Gupta's ZINDA. “I don't want to talk about the issue. I can defend my move [of opting out], but that'll lead to unnecessary controversies. ZINDA is a closed chapter as far as I am concerned,” the supremely talented actor states. The thorough gentleman that Akshaye is, he did divulge the reasons to us, but swore us to secrecy at the same time!
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