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Akshay Kumar is thrilled and upset at the same time. Thrilled, because his new movie, KAMBAKKHT ISHQ, has taken an incredible start from East to West and from North to South.
Post JUMBO, CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA and 8 x 10 TASVEER, Akshay had become everyone's favorite punching bag. Once considered the blue-eyed boy of one and all, Akshay was dropped like a hot potato after a string of flops.
"I was disillusioned. I would be lying if I said that the flops didn't affect me. They did, especially the failure of CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA. I was heart-broken, crest-fallen, " Akshay informs me. He's just back from a whirlwind tour (Puerto Rico, London, Delhi, now Mumbai) and has barely slept since the past few days.
"I was extremely nervous. I couldn't sleep. What if KAMBAKKHT ISHQ doesn't open well? That thought kept bothering me, " Akshay admits. But now that the film has fetched a superb start, the actor is feeling relieved. "Aaj raat achchi neend aayegi, " he flashes his charismatic smile, when he's told that the film should have a record-breaking opening weekend.
But Akshay's upset too -- and it shows -- when he feels that there's a strategy to pull him down. The negative sms-es during the paid previews and the subsequent messages ridiculing his film have hurt him.
"Why do we resort to such things? Aren't we happy that the audiences are back? NEW YORK attracted crowds, now KAMBAKKHT ISHQ has. LUCK, LOVE AAJ KAL and KAMINEY would also bring crowds. The volume of business is only increasing. But by resorting to such things, we are only harming ourselves, " Akshay says.
After a gloriously bravura and spectacularly successful performance in Ghajini, Aamir Khan has finally decided to do what he was planning for quite a while.
He has taken a full year off from acting and movies.
Aamir is wrapping up his work on the film before moving on to a year of relaxation and introspection.
Says one of his co-stars from the film, "Aamir has been talking about re-charging his batteries, giving himself that much-needed break. Ghajini and all the preparation has been specially exhausting both physically and emotionally. Aamir is the kind of actor who works purely for the love of cinema. And right now he needs to take a break."
A source close to Aamir spills the beans, "It's true Aamir is finally taking a year off after 3 Idiots is completed. Actually he was planning to do so last year after Taare Zameen Par where the double responsibility of directing and acting really sapped him.
But then he was coaxed into Ghajini and then began his physical re-orientation, the muscle-building and body-toning that really exhausted the method actor."
It's time for a prolonged break.
Says the source, "Aamir is ready to take that long-pending break. Yes, he wont be doing any films for the next one year. And this time I've a feeling no power on earth will convince him to take up another offer until he's ready to return to acting by his own free will."
Aamir Khan Productions currently busy with Abhinay Deo's Delhi Belly and Kiran Rao's Dhobi Ghat is expected to remain fully active as the man at its helm takes time off to travel, read scripts, watch films and spend time with his children.
Ghajini producer Madhu Mantena is one of the hopefuls who would just have to eait until Aamir is rejuvenated.
Says Madhu, "Is Aamir really taking time off? He has earned it. But it's bad news for people like us. I was hoping to sign him for another film after Ghajini."
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