Saccharine sweet romantic family dramas like Ek Rishta helped establish him as a mature actor. But now with a sudden spurt in action cinema, Akshay Kumar returns to his old image of action hero.

Q. What prompted you to return to action cinema when your performance in Ek Rishta was applauded?
A. It's just that most of the films I have on hand now are action films ... but I am certainly looking for all kinds of subjects, including playing a blind hero.

Q. Aren't you taking a big risk?
A. I was very sceptical about Aankhen but my role has been appreciated. Unless you take the risk of trying out different things, you won't grow as an actor. I am widening my horizon ... my kids should remember me more as a refined actor than a star.

Q. Are you acting in a Marathi film?
A. It is a small part I am playing to encourage an old friend who has travelled a long way-from being a spot boy to a producer. It is just a goodwill gesture.

Q. What are the different things you are trying out?
A. I am doing an action comedy, Aawara Paagal Diwana; Mahesh Manjrekar's desi Godfather called Kutumb; and Suneil Darshan's romantic thriller Talaash.

Q. Are you going to be a father soon?
A. Yes.

ROLE MODEL: Four actors in the fray

BOX OFFICE

The Dark Horse

Vipul Shah's directorial debut on the big screen, Aankhen, started with an enthusiastic response but collections slid from Day 2 at most places, the exceptions being Mumbai and some parts of Maharashtra. Action-packed police-underworld drama Ansh has also failed to generate much response but Ram Gopal Varma's melodrama on the gangworld, Company, has got a good opening all over the country. It took a dark film to brighten up an otherwise gloomy market.

Patriotic Resurgence

If the schmaltzy Gadar-Ek Prem Katha could do it-incite patriotic fervour, that is-four other films should do it too. At least that's the apparent premise on which a quartet of films are being made on the legendary patriot, Bhagat Singh, who gave the freedom movement the war cry of Inquilab Zindabad. That isn't all. Though bearing different names, all four are being planned as a coincidental release so as to not give another a chance to take the all-important lead! Of the clutch, the bitter battle appears to be between Raj Kumar Santoshi's The Legend of Bhagat Singh and Vijayta Films' 1931-Bhagat Singh. Bobby Deol and Ajay Devgan are two of the men playing the freedom fighter on the big screen. Others in the fray are Tarun Wadhwa's version with Punjabi pop singer Harbhajan Singh Maan and Ramanand Sagar's flick with a newcomer. Get set to watch Deol and Devgan-the current angry young men of Bollywood-in a retro look replete with pencil moustache and turban. Bhagat Singh zindabad.

SECOND SERVE: Ash, Salman

Together Again

All speculations can now be laid to rest. Sceptics who swore that the reason why femme fatale Aishwarya Rai was not doing another film with Salman Khan despite the success of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was their now on-now off amour, can go take a walk. Kuchh Na Kaho, a Rohan Sippy-venture, stars the doe-eyed beauty and Bachchan Junior in the lead. And Salman, who has been roped in to do a substantial guest appearance, plays hide and seek with lady love. Like they say, love ke liye kuch bhi karega.

-compiled by Sheela Raval