Bollywood titan Shah Rukh Khan may have been credited with bringing back the ordinary Indian man on the big screen with his romantic hit Rab Ne Bana De Jodi. But it's actor Akshay Kumar who is determined to take the common man onscreen movement forward.
In his latest comedy, Khatta Meetha (Sour and Sweet), Kumar plays struggling road works contractor Sachin Tichkule who battles it out with corrupt government officials, bureaucracy and — as if it couldn't get any worse — a scorned ex-girlfriend.
A radical departure from his larger-than-life roles in Kambhakkt Ishq and Housefull, Kumar sheds his suave, designer-clad hero image to play a frazzled working man in the satire.
Review: Khatta Meetha (Sour and Sweet) is true to its title
In an e-mail interview, sent to us before he jetted off for a vacation with his wife, Twinkle, and son, Aarav, Kumar spilled the beans on working with Bollywood hitmaker Priyadarshan, his chameleon-like nature and more.
Working with director Priyadarshan has often worked out well for you in terms of hits. Is he your go-to director when your career needs a boost?
I have always felt a sense of security when working with Priyadarshan. But this feeling has not stemmed from his excellent track record but because he is this movie genius.
Look at it this way, not all movies are meant to be blockbusters. In fact, some of my favourite films have been my biggest flops. Sometimes, it all boils down to fate. But having said that, I just work hard and that's all I can do.
Can you tell us about a typical working day with Priyadarshan? (Word has it Priyadarshan has zero-tolerance for star tantrums and has even managed to get the rakish Bollywood star Salman Khan to turn up on set on time.)
Priyanji [Priyadarshan] starts early so that he can finish early, and that's what I love about him. Everyone is scared of him, but the fear is mostly out of respect. Also, he employs the most efficient and the hardest-working crew in the business, so there are no last-minute hitches.
His working style is such that Priyanji will give you a heads-up on what he wants out of us on that day and does not bog you down with what he expects from other days. In fact, he is so focused that you need to keep your wits intact to keep up with him.
And did you know, no one knows the details of the script except him. Unlike other directors, you will never get to sit down on his sets. He is the kind of director who will shoot back-to-back scenes, and I love that about him.
How was it acting alongside relative Bollywood newcomer Trisha Krishnan?
Trisha is as big as me down South... I think. And as far as I know, she is very good and a stable actress. Also, she was hand-picked by Priyanji himself and I think she brought out the best in me. And believe me, it's nothing but a compliment if it comes from a hero of the film.
Dynamic duo: Other Akhsay Kumar and Priyadarshan collaborations
You play a struggling road works contractor in this film. It's a departure from your suave, chauvinistic role in Kambhakkt Ishq. Was that a deliberate move?
Yes, it's a radical move, but it helps being a chameleon in this industry. The fact that I can change my colours with every film is what I love the most about this industry. It's almost impossible to be bored if you are in Bollywood.
I am so lucky, because every day is different and every film has some new diverse challenge for me as an actor. And if I were not versatile, I [would] not be able to release many films at the same time. Versatility is the key.
Recent Bollywood box office history has indicated that much-hyped films like Raavan and Kites have not worked. Do you think films like Khatta Meetha — which touch on ordinary people and the problems they face — are the way to go?
In India, the box office success of a film largely depends on whether the audience likes a film or not. A film should have the power to pull the audience from their comfort of their homes to cinema theatres. Only then does a movie become a blockbuster.
Also, you need to bear in mind that there are some films which are just not critic-friendly, while others are critic-proof — the latter does good business, despite what the reviews say.
Khatta Meetha is your home production. What made you jump aboard this project?
When Priyanji narrated the script of Khatta Meetha on the sets of De Dana Dan in 2009, I couldn't wait to start filming it. In fact, I was sold on the idea even before we had released De Dana Dan and we began shooting it right away.
The script of Khatta Meetha was amazing, because I love the humour element in it. It's not a full-blown comedy because it's funny yet tackles serious subjects like corruption and red-tapism.
If you were to peddle Khatta Meetha to a non-Indian, how would you sell it?
Open your mind and put yourself in the shoes of an everyday Indian man who is struggling to earn money, who is dying to make his father proud or determined to prove a point in his community.
Only then can anyone begin to understand the real depth of Khatta Meetha. And even if you can't understand a word of Hindi, you can still feel so many emotions purely from the actors' performance.
In your previous hit Housefull, and in Khatta Meetha, you are tickling people's funny bones. When will we see you play a villain again?
I played a villain in 8x10 Tasveer not so long ago. In that film, I even killed my own family and my identical twin. But right now, I am waiting patiently for another intriguing negative script to come my way.
How does your son Aarav rate your comic timing?
My son has the loudest laugh when he watches my films. To him, I am Tom and Jerry in human form.
