Akshay Kumar-Karan Johar to finally team up

A few weeks back, Akshay Kumar made a statement in jest: “Karan (Johar) doesn’t take me in his films. He probably thinks I’m not good enough.” Call it a coincidence or just a stroke of luck, but we can confirm that the two will now be working together for the first time.

A few weeks back, Akshay Kumar made a statement in jest: “Karan (Johar) doesn’t take me in his films. He probably thinks I’m not good enough.” Call it a coincidence or just a stroke of luck, but we can confirm that the two will now be working together for the first time.

Akshay-Kumar

By the start of next year, Akshay and Karan will collaborate on a film jointly produced by the former’s Hari Om Entertainment and the latter’s Dharma Productions. Punit Malhotra will direct it. Karan says, “I’ve wanted to work with Akshay since a long time. It’s amazing how the deal has come through so quickly. I met him at his gym, and we sat on the floor to discuss the nitty-gritties of the contract. We struck a deal in barely five minutes.”And the filmmaker doesn’t deny that Akshay’s comment may have triggered off the process.

“Actually, it may have started rolling after that. We met at a party, and what started off as a joke has turned into something serious,” says Karan, who has known Akshay’s wife, Twinkle Khanna, since they were kids.

He adds, “Akshay has a strong grip over stories and screenplays. He’s very clear about the way he wants things to be. The film is going to be a very hard-hitting, mainstream commercial venture with an edge.”

It will also star another male actor, who the makers haven’t decided upon yet. “We are far from casting a girl as well. The film hasn’t even been titled yet. For Punit, this is going to be a departure from his style of filmmaking,” says Karan.

Apparently, Punit has been working on this script for over a year now. He will start work on this film after completing his other project, Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, which stars Sidharth Malhotra and Parineeti Chopra.