‘My relationship with Akshay goes beyond doing one film’
Film-maker Vipul Shah is set to make his directorial comeback after a hiatus of seven years. His last outing as a director was Action Replayy (2010) with Akshay Kumar, the star with whom he has made six films.
Ever since the news broke that Vipul’s next film will be titled Namastey England, rumours are rife that it will be a sequel to his 2007 hit Namastey London, starring Akshay. However, the film-maker refutes this, and says that it’s a “new script and story”. Furthermore, there are reports suggesting that Vipul was keen on working with Akshay again, but the actor has opted out of Namastey England because he wants to do meaningful cinema and not take up masala films.
In an exclusive chat with HT Café, Vipul says this is not so, and that there’s a different reason for Akshay not being in this film. “It’s preposterous to suggest that I’d replace Akshay. People need to know that we’ve been together for the past 16 years. Our relationship goes beyond doing one film,” says Vipul.
The reason Akshay won’t be seen in the movie is his busy schedule, though he and Vipul had ideated on Namastey England together. The film-maker is now progressing with the project after getting a go-ahead from Akshay on using the title. “When I called Akshay to ask if we can use the title of the film, he said, ‘Arre Vipul yaar, what is the issue?’” This indicates he had no problem with the request made by his old friend.”
It’s preposterous to suggest that I’d replace Akshay. People need to know that we’ve been together for the past 16 years. VIPUL SHAH, FILM-MAKER