Akshay Khanna gets slap-happy

Akshaye Khanna has slapped a politician in his forthcoming film but makers claim they were not inspired by the recent Sharad Pawar episode Even before the sound of Harvinder Singh's slap resonating across politician Sharad Pawar's cheek has died down, there comes the news that Akshaye Khanna playing the frustrated disillusioned Common Man in a new film has done exactly that in a forthcoming film. Writer-director Rumi Jaffrey, however, kills the rumour that the sequence has been shot after the slap-happy incident in Delhi. In what looks like a bizarre reprise of Harvinder Singh's slap against corruption last week, Akshaye Khanna playing the Common Man in writer-director Rumi Jaffrey's Gali Gali Gali Mein Shor Hai, walks up casually to the corrupt politician, played by character-actor Murli Sharma, and plants a resounding slap on the corrupt glib-talking man's face. Protesting against the buzz that he shot the slapping sequence following the real life incident in the country's capital, Rumi says, "No, no! We shot the sequence three months ago in Bhopal. We had no clue someone will actually be doing what we had only imagined as a cinematic device to show the Common Man's anger and frustration. We even used to discuss within our crew whether the scene would offend our politicians in any way. But look at destiny! A man actually went and did it." Rumi says, "I suppose the average Indian's tolerance power has reached breaking-point. When we started Gali-Gali Mein Shor Hai, Anna Hazare saab's campaign and all its offshoots had just started. As we completed the film we realised how deep-rooted people's resentment against corruption had become." At the moment there's just anxiety on the director's mind: "People shouldn't think we're copying real-life incidents of protest."

Akshay sends Katrina get well soon wishes

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif is down with jaundice and missing from the promotions for her latest outing De Dana Dan. And her co-star Akshay Kumar was prompt in wishing her speedy recovery.Rumours were rife that the actress was rushed to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai Monday night, where she was diagnosed with jaundice and has been advised complete bed rest for a while.Asked if it were true, Akshay said: “Katrina is down with jaundice… We are missing her and hope she gets well soon.”

Apparently De Dana Dan is Akshay and Katrina’s sixth outing together after movies like Hum Ko Deewana Kar Gaye and back to back hits like Namastey London, Welcome and Singh Is Kinng.They also starred recently in underwater thriller Blue.Akshay, who has had a string of flops this year with Chandni Chowk To China, 8×10 Tasveer, Kambakkht Ishq and Blue, is now keeping his fingers crossed for De Dana Dan.”Our chemistry does work and we’ve seen the results in Singh Is Kinng and other films and we expect the same from this film too.

This movie should do very well and I expect great returns for my producers. I have great expectations from this one,” he said. Akshay was here at the DT Cinema multiplex in Vasant Kunj to promote the movie with his co-stars Suniel Shetty, Neha Dhupia, Sameera Reddy and producer Sunil. A. Lulla.Directed by Priyadarshan, De Dana Dan has also been produced by Ganesh and Girish Jain. It also stars Paresh Rawal in an important role.

Akshay-Twinkle skip the unbuttoning act

Last time there was a big controversy when he got his wife Twinkle Khanna to unbutton his jeans on the ramp. But this time Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar ensured that the same mistake was not repeated.This time he sashayed down the ramp for Salman Khan’s “Being Human” show at the ongoing HDIL India Couture Week here Tuesday. Dressed casually in slim fit jeans and a smart jacket with aviator glares, Akshay stopped on the ramp, posed in front of her and smilingly cautioned her not to unbutton his jeans again.

“I didn’t know that the gesture would create such an uproar. I don’t want to go to jail again, so no such retakes for that shot,” a smiling Twinkle told IANS.In April, Akshay had got Twinkle to unbutton his jeans for a fashion show when he walked the ramp as a brand ambassador. The act had put the couple in trouble – Akshay was summoned by police while his wife had to spend a few hours in jail. Twinkle, an actress-turned-interior designer, was later released on bail.

Anil Kapoor Fined for Short Kut title

The Delhi High Court on Thursday allowed Bollywood actor and producer Anil Kapoor to release his film Shortkut after he agreed to pay Rs 35 lakh to another producer who claimed to have copyright over the title of the movie.

The production company, Anil Kapoor Film Co Pvt Ltd, owned by the actor agreed before Justice Reva Chetrapal to pay Rs 35 lakhs to B S Bhullar who claimed copyrights over the title Short Kut.

The movie, starring Akshay Khanna, Arshad Warsi and Amrita Rao, is scheduled to be released on Friday.

Bhullar had alleged that Kapoor had copied the title of his film after he gave script to the actor and offered him a role in his proposed movie.

The High Court had on July 7 issued notice to the film company and and sought its reply on the matter. Bhullar had alleged he had registered the title Short Kut with the Films Association in September 2005 and the Bollywood actor's production company copied it in an "illegal and unauthorised" manner.