Akshay and Vipul back again

Basking in the super success of Singh is Kinng, producer Vipul Shah is set to make a sequel to the comedy and has signed on favourite actor Akshay Kumar for it. However, he plans to make another film with the actor before that.

“After doing Waqt, Namestey London and  Singh is Kinng, we had to do something that would take us into another zone. My next film with Akshay pushes the envelope even more. After that there’s the Singh is Kinng sequel which I’d like Anees Bazmi to direct. But he’s very busy. So it depends on him,” said Shah.

Shah has quietly finished the script for his next film starring Akshay while shooting “London Dreams”, an India-Britain co-production which went on floors last month.

Shah has signed Ajay Devgan and Salman Khan to play lead roles in London Dreams but clarifies that Akshay will remain a common feature in most of his films.

“You see Akshay remains a constant. But like I said I am working with Ajay and Salman for the first time. And I felt equally at home. So I’ll be working with them again for sure,” he said.

Shah has also signed a two-film deal with 20th Century Fox. One of these films would be a big special effects spectacle again featuring Akshay.

So where did all the rumours of a rift with Akshay come from?

“Search me,” Vipul laughs. “I was committed to this Goan holiday from long before. There was no way I could disappoint my sons. Akshay himself flew down from South Africa for just a day for his party and went back. So it was all done in a rush. Just because I don’t attend his party we’ve become enemies? What kind of logic is that? We’ve decided to have our own private Diwali bash as soon as he returns on Nov 11. We’re also announcing the details of our next film together very shortly.”

Jodhaa Akbar bags another award

Ashutosh Gowariker’s magnum opus Jodhaa Akbar has won yet another international award, the ‘Audience Award’ of the Best Foreign Feature Film at the 32nd Sao Paulo International Film Festival in Brazil.

This award comes just after the Grand Prix Award for Best Film and the Best Actor Award that the film won at the Golden Minbar Film Festival held in Russia over a week ago.

“I am extremely happy. I would really like to thank the audiences in Brazil for appreciating the film. This is the second honour coming just a week after we got the Grand Prix Award at the Golden Minbar Film Festival, Kazan. What I am most happy with is that the audiences as diverse as the Russians and the Brazilians have honoured the film. I am thrilled that the film has crossed over,” said an elated Ashutosh Gowariker.