AKSHAY KUMAR TO STAR IN FIRST INDIAN FILM TO BE SHOT IN CHINA

Bollywood has joined hands with Hollywood major Warner Brothers for Made in China, the first Indian movie to be shot in China.

Shooting for the film, which will feature action star Akshay Kumar and model Deepika Padukone, will begin in January 2008, Warner Bros said in a release Thursday.

Akshay will play a lowly Mumbai cook who is mistaken for a martial arts hero in the movie to be directed by Nikhil Advani of "Kal Ho Na Ho" fame.

The script has been written by Shridhar Raghavan and the music is to be composed by Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonca.

Shooting on location in China will mark a first for an Indian production, said Warner Bros, which is making its initial foray into Bollywood.

The movie will be produced by Ramesh Sippy Productions and Advani's Orion Pictures, while Warner Bros will distribute it worldwide.

Ramesh Sippy, the director of "Sholay", said: "At the turn of the century there was a lot of promise in the air about globalisation in Indian cinema and now with this venture, RSP and Orion are joining hands with Warner Bros, bringing that dream closer to reality.

"Certainly what we hope to achieve at the minimum is a greater knowledge and understanding of the workings and systems of Hollywood and the Indian film industry. And I am sure we both stand to gain a lot from each other."

Blaise Fernandes, country manager for Warner Bros Entertainment India, said, "We'll count on our partners' expertise and will do everything in our power to make a well-crafted, popular and successful Indian film."

HEYY BABYY IS A SPECIAL FILM FOR ME: AKSHAY KUMAR

He is the one actor in tinsel town who has always proved his critics wrong. When he was labelled as an action hero with his 'Khiladi' series films, he did romantic films, negative shade characters and comic roles and proved everyone wrong by his acting and always added feathers in his cap. Now, Akshay Kumar who has been doing consecutive hits is all set with his latest comic film 'Heyy Babyy' which according to him is a very special film.

At Rajasthan's Jaisalmer city shooting for Yash Raj film's upcoming film 'Tashan,' Akshay spoke on various issues candidly with PTI exclusively over phone from Jaisalmer despite his hectic schedule.

'Heyy Babyy,' he said, it is a very special movie for me, because i have done this film only for my little son Aaarav. And i did this because I had never worked with a child artiste, and with this film i have learned that how difficult is this to shoot a film with a child artiste," he said.

They (producer and director) ensure everything for the baby Juhaina who has played vital role in the film. Mind you this baby is only star in the film and we had three doctors and three nurses round the clock for the baby, he said.

"At this stage of my career, working with the child artiste taught me that they are big stars," Akshay Kumar said.

There was no shooting when the baby was sleeping, we were instructed not to disturb the mood of baby when he was having food. All of us (Ritesh Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan, Akshay Kumar) had to wait on the set to get his mood right for the shoot.

It was also heard that during the shooting of the film, Akshay proved to be the best babysitter as whenever the baby got into restless mood on the sets, Akki used to take baby onto his lap and soothe her. Up to some extent that's true. Not only me but Ritesh too had looked after the baby well. It was a memorable experience that would not be forgotten, he said.

On the storyline of the film, Akshay, said, "Main kuch nahien bataoonga (I will not tell anything)." All what I can tell you is that people of every age especially kids, parents and grandparents are going to enjoy the film. It is the funiest film that would also make people cry."

Is it true that the film is based on famous Hollywood film 'Three men and a baby?' No, only similarly in our film is that we too have three men and a baby but it is an altogether different film in terms of story telling and direction," he said.

Akshay recalls how he called his costar Vidya Balan up and pretending to be an Australian journalist requested for a interview. She agreed and I interviewed her for about 20 minutes, I had switched on the speaker of my cellphone and let other crew members listen to our conversation. She did that interview so seriously."

'Heyy Babyy' is the directorial debut of anchor Saajid Khan (Farah Khan's brother). Akshay Kumar said he " I know him for the last 20 years.

With this film I can say confidently that film industry has lost a comic actor but we got a good director who would be appreciated for the work he has done in Heyy Babyy." On his stunts and actions the actor says he is ready with Nikhil Advani's 'Made in China' in which he would be seen with all stunts and action.

"I have done action again almost after five years. And when I was doing such film after a long time I thought I should do something special to the audience, and people would definitely love the action and stunts of this film," he said.

Akshay is presently wrapping up the shooting of Yash Raj productions 'Tashan' where he has teamed up with Saif Ali Khan almost after 10 years. He said, "I cannot say much on this film. All what I can tell you is that I am with Saif after 10 years and he is the best co-star to work with."

BOLLYWOOD BILLBOARD: NOTABLE QUOTES FROM BOLLYWOOD BADSHAHS

"I don't like it (the term Bollywood). I describe it as the Hindi film industry or the Indian film industry. Why call it something derived from a western name? Somehow I feel it is a little degrading. It has now found its way into the Oxford English Dictionary, so it's going to be there for eternity now."

-- Amitabh Bachchan talking to New Statesman

"Shah Rukh has recently bought an Audi A6 car for Aryan and Suhana (his children). Shah Rukh who already has five foreign-made cars wanted a safe and state-of-the-art car for his kids. The car has been delivered to him yesterday. The car is in the league of the most luxurious cars. Shah Rukh himself uses a BMW, which he is very fond of."

-- A source told Mumbai Mirror

"Hi Guys, this is Aamir. It's been 6 years since Lagaan released in theatres across the world, and while the DVD has been released all over, in India it has only just come out. Reason? My ignorance as a producer resulted in my signing a contract, which restricted me from releasing it for 5 years in India. In a day and age when DVDs release within weeks of the theatrical release, do you'll think people will be interested in Lagaan?"

-- Aamir Khan writes in his blog

"Yes, I really like it (his new film Aap Kaa Surroor, which is releasing today). When I had started shooting, people said I had gone crazy. I have not turned into an actor to merely fulfill my ambition. There was a conviction within me that acting will come naturally to me."

-- Singer Himesh Reshammiya on why he turned actor

"Absolutely. I mean this decision (to take up acting again) was taken after we (my husband and I) discussed the matter at length. We both kind of sat down and made a conscious decision whether I should be doing this or not and he has always supported me. He told me that if I don’t want to, I can sit at home and look after the kids. But, if you feel you want to do something, then I am with you all the way whatever the decision will be."

-- Madhuri Dixit tell Karan Johar on his show Koffee with Karan about how her husband supported her to take up acting

"If they (Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan) had any problems, why would they agree to do the second film together? I don't know what goes on in their heads, I don't know. But they were fine on the sets, sharing biryanis and jokes.

-- Producer Sajid Naidiadwala on the reported differences between Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan

FREEZE FRAME: ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL IN BOLLYWOOD IN ONE SHOT