Bollywood’s favorite action star-comedian-romantic hero, Akshay Kumar, will be playing a villain for the second time in his upcoming new film, Milan Lutharia’s Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobaara. The sequel to the Ajay Devgn and Emran Hashmi starrer, this film’s cast will also include Imraan Khan and Dabangg girl Sonakashi Sinha and Sonali Bendre. The film is slated for release on August 15th, 2013.
Akshay Kumar as Manav Mangli
Akshay’s new avatar will be to enact a negative role as a flamboyant gangster in this film. He has not stepped into such a role since 2001 when he played the role of Vikram Bajaj in Ajnabee.
The plot of his upcoming film is centered on the violent, unpredictable, and problematic gang wars of Mumbai that took place in the 1980s. Although there are rumors that the film is based on the two well-known notorious gangsters Dawood Ibrahim and Chota Rajan, Akshay Kumar clarified the rumors in an interview with India West, “I play the character of Shoaib who is an underworld don; it is fictional and not related to anyone real. It is a continuation of part one. I had seen Shoaib’s character in the first part, and I carry the character forward. I did not think of a comparison. We do films because we like the script…I feel we are not in a rat race. A hero is innocent, poor and has problems with family. The villain also beats him up while the villain is at the top. I loved playing the larger-than-life villain’s character. You get to play such characters rarely, so you should not let such opportunities go.” Kumar has said.
In Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai Again, Kumar said in a press conference, “Bad is the New Good. I am not trying to glorify a bad lead character; it is just a character I am playing. Not many actors agree to play a negative role.”
Aamir Khan’s nephew, Imraan Khan, also impressed Kumar. He told the press, “He [Imran Khan] did all the stunts with me and jumped from rooftops, and I was very impressed with him. I think he is the next action hero.”
Milan Lutharia who last directed The Dirty Picture said, “Akshay is a very happy guy, a wonderful happy person to work on and off the sets. Having a person like him with you gives you a lot of confidence. He kept the atmosphere very happy on the set. I also felt that the character played in the original installment by Emraan Hashmi needed to be older, with a different kind of presence.”
In the film, Akshay plays a cricket-obsessed don who uses his power to manipulate a cricket match.
Balaji Motion Pictures CEO Tanuj Garg told Deccan Chronicle that Kumar traveled to Birmingham, UK to watch the most anticipated India-Pakistan match, "As a company known for pushing the envelope on marketing, we will have our Shoaib attending the India-Pakistan match at Edgbaston. Cricket is a perfect fit with his character in the film, as evidenced in the film's first trailer as well.”
Images and Sources: Natasha Muddar/Sterling Media, IndiaWest, IndiaTimes, Hindustan Times
Video:Balaji Telefilms Video
Action Star, Ajnabee, Akshay Kumar, Anokhi Blogs, Anokhi Media, Chota Rajan, Cricket, Dawood Ibrahim, Emran Hashmi, Imraan Khan, Negative Role, Sonakshi Sinha, Underworld Don
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