Akshay Kumar to set new record with next film Special Chabbis

Akshay Kumar recently created a record with his five releases doing a collective business of over 400 crores just in India. However, this isn't the last of the records that he has created. Come February and he would be setting a new record for the maximum number of releases that a top actor has seen in a span of 12 months.

"With the release of Special Chabbis confirmed for February next year, Akshay would now have six releases in 10 months. This is a new record and no other superstar has come even close to such a feat during last one decade at least. Yes, such phenomenon was quite prominent during 70s, 80s and to an extent even 90s when stars used to work in multiple films. However, with most top league stars opting for one, or at maximum two releases a year, Akshay has been an exception", comments an observer.

Starting from Housefull 2 in April this year, Akshay has released Rowdy Rathore (June), Joker (August), OMG Oh My God (September) and Khiladi 786 (December).

"Over and above this, he also has Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2, Boss and Thuppakki lined up in 2013. This makes it nine releases in two years, a feat that none of the three Khans or other superstars like Ajay Devgn or Hrithik has enjoyed", informs a source.

In that context, he is pretty much competing with his own record that was set around two decades ago. Way back in 1994, he had an astonishing 11 releases in a single year with Elaan, Yeh Dillagi, Jai Kishan, Mohra, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Ikke Pe Ikka, Amaanat, Suhaag, Zakhmi Dil, Zaalim and Hum Hain Bemisaal releasing month after month.

Parineeti Chopra gives up Akshay's film for Sushant Rajput

While Ranveer Singh has happily signed films outside the parent Yashraj banner his costar from  Ladies Versus Ricky Bahl Parineeti Chopra seems tied down by a binding contract that doesn’t allow her the same freedom.

One hears Parineeti was very keen to sign on for the Hindi remake of the Tamil blockbuster Thuppakki which she was offered by producer Vipul Shah  on behalf of director A. Murugadoss. Apparently Akshay Kumar was also interested in getting her on board for the project as he had seen and liked the new girl on the Bollywood block in Ishaqzaade. However, Yashraj apparently wouldn’t release Parineeti to do the outside project .

Heavy trading of negotiations between the two parties finally culminated in a deadend for Parineeti, with Aditya Chopra apparently vetoeing the very idea of the girl working in an outside film at a time when she was shooting for Yashraj’s new film with director Maneesh Sharma opposite Sushant Singh Rajput.

Says a source, “Parineeti was ready to shuttle between the two projects without letting either suffer. But she was told in no uncertain terms that she would have to stay committed full-time to Maneesh Sharma’s film, just like the film’s leading man Sushant Singh Rajput who has not been permitted to do any other project while shooting for the Yashraj film.”

Apparently Akshay Kumar also intervened in the hope of some flexibility in Parineeti’s schedule. But to no avail.

 It was only after it became crystal-clear that Parineeti wouldn’t be able to the Thuppakki remake that Sonakshi Sinha was sounded out, and signed.

Confirming this director A Murugadoss said, “We tried really hard for Parineeti. But she was committed by contract to a project with Yashraj Films.”

 Curiously Vipul Shah’s schedules for the Thuppakki remake don’t clash with the Maneesh Sharma film at all. So one wonders why Parineeti had to let go of such a plum  project that was bound to take her career further.

AAMIR VS AKSHAY: Screen war for Talaash, Khiladi 786

By Hindustan Times

Aamir Khan-starrer Talaash and Akshay Kumar’s Khiladi 786 are going the Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Son of Sardaar way with both films trying to get as many single screens as possible for their November 30 and December 7 releases respectively.

It turns out that Talaash makers are seeking a second week’s run for their flick in single-screen theatres with a probable effort to reduce visibility for Akki’s film.

“Aamir Khan has demanded a second week’s run for Talaash in single screens despite the fact that the theatres booked Akshay’s movie three months in advance,” says distributor Joginder Mahajan.

At the time of going to press, the stand of single screen halls on Talaash’s request for a second week’s run was still not clear.