Click to play videoBollywood’s reigning king Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif talk about their forthcoming film Singh is Kinng in an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN. The film’s director, Vipul Shah also joins the leading hit pair. Akshay also awards the winner of the Main Bhi King Contest appreciating his bravery.
Anubha Bhonsle: Akshay, since you are Punjabi, I am sure playing this character would have been quite easy.
Akshay Kumar:: Well, it was very easy since I'm Punjabi. I have lots of Sikh friends and my father works in Amritsar. So this was a cakewalk for me. I used get up in the morning, go for shooting and yawn. I used to then take the lines, go and perform, and then go back home.
This is one of those films where you don't have to do much because you know the role. It's not like other films in which I have to really work hard. So this was an easy film for me to do.
Anubha Bhonsle: Katrina, you have been Akshay's love interest in many characters. Was it easy to digest seeing Akshay Kumar with a turban?
Katrina Kaif: Yes, it was actually. I first saw him with a turban in a picture while shooting for the film. And I thought he looked really good. It can be a difficult look to carry off. But I think it's one of his best looks, especially in the romantic songs of this film. I don't think he has ever looked better in my opinion.
Anubha Bhonsle: I have to admit you looked extremely cool with the turban on.
Akshay Kumar: Thank you, but I must tell you that once you wear a turban, suddenly you really feel the responsibility that comes with it. And you really feel like a king. No wonder sardars are the kings.
Anubha Bhonsle: Is it true that one of the turbans has diamonds worth Rs 65 lakh in it?
Vipul Shah: Not Rs 65 lakh. We live in a world of exaggeration, where everything gets blown out of proportion.
Anubha Bhonsle: So how many lakh is it worth?
Vipul Shah: Well, I would not like to talk figures, but it's not Rs 65 lakh.
Anubha Bhonsle: Is it true that the tile Singh is Kinng was written behind a truck and has been taken from there?
Akshay Kumar: Yes, I was shooting for Bhool Bhulaiya in Jaipur when I was driving and I saw this title behind a truck. I called Vipul and I told him we have to make a film with the title Singh is king. So he asked me, what is the story, who is the director and who will make it? I said, "I don't know. All I know is that I want to play Singh."
So he said, let's make a film and we'll search for something or the other and very soon we hit upon the script. And the rest is history.
Anubha Bhonsle: Whatever you touch suddenly turns to gold, doesn't it?
Vipul Shah: Well yes, we have got some good success in the past.
Anubha Bhonsle: And who has been whose lucky mascot?
Katrina Kaif: I don't think there is anything to do with me, and I don't want to speak for Akshay. I think it has to do with the script, with the director and the film. I think the audience sees the promo and they think this is a fun film, so let's go and watch it. They decide on the basis of that, though I can't really speak about 'luck'.
Anubha Bhonsle: Is there a brave moment in your life that you would like to talk about, or where you have actually felt like a king or a queen?
Katrina Kaif: I don't know about feeling like a king or queen, but feeling great, feeling something really nice is when probably every time you are able to do some thing to help your family.
I have a big family, I have six sisters. And every time I am can do anything that brings a smile on their face, like buying them a gift or doing something special which I can do because of the privileged position that I am in today, that is a wonderful feeling to see that you can provide for your family.
Anubha Bhonsle: Vipul, at the end of filming and shooting, now when the film is all ready to release, do you think it is a job well done?
Vipul Shah: I think it's a job extremely well done because we have a wonderful team.
Akshay Kumar: My producer's job is not well done yet. His job actually starts now because a producer is not about selling the film and just producing the film. He has to take care of the film for at least about one month more as that is the main time when you go with the movie and try to sell it off more to people and tell them about it as much as you can.
The producer has to take care of all the hoardings and has to make sure that the publicity goes on right. But for this movie we have not put any hoardings because we thought that we did not require it. Though we do need to do a lot of things with the TV.
Anubha Bhonsle: Vipul, why is there an extra 'N' in King?
Vipul Shah: It's numerology. We are in a high-risk business, so when we make a film, it's a big gamble. So anything that can bring luck to the film is most welcome.
Anubha Bhonsle: Katrina, we have seen you growing with films, performing even much better with each film. You had a slight discomfort with Hindi initially, have you completely overcome that?
Katrina Kaif: English will always be my first language. With my friends, I will probably speak more in English, but in films it's very easy for me. Luckily, I am not the scriptwriter, and the dialogues are written for me. So I am very comfortable now with whole procedure.
Anubha Bhonsle: You have chosen the right films or have you been blessed with good producers and good directors, or both?
Katrina Kaif: I have been hundred per cent blessed with good producers, good directors and good co-stars. I have been very fortunate that the audiences have liked the films.
Anubha Bhonsle: There was a slight controversy with the Sikh community. Have they been able to see the film and are they convinced that there is nothing objectionable?
Akshay Kumar: There is nothing objectionable now. Everything has been sorted out. They had a little issue, which we sat down and sorted out. And they are satisfied now. They have given the green signal to go ahead. And so the movie is getting released tomorrow.
Anubha Bhonsle: One of the early reviews of this film has called it a really tasty vada pao that you should eat with the finest cutlery. What is your perception of this?
Akshay Kumar: Let’s say my film is a complete family entertainer. You can sit down with your entire family and enjoy the film. You don’t have to worry about any objectionable scenes or violence. There is nothing like that, it’s a film where you leave your brains at home and enjoy. I believe in entertaining people.
People spend about Rs 100 for one ticket. When the whole family goes, they spend about Rs 1000. So, what they need is complete entertainment, where they can hear lot of good music, see fights and emotions, and also comedy. This film consists of everything and that is why it’s called Singh is Kinng.
Anubha Bhonsle: Is this going to be a hat trick after Welcome and Namastey London?
Vipul Shah: Akshay and I have already completed the hattrick. We are going towards the second hattrick and with Katrina, this will be the second one, who will soon complete the hattrick.
Anubha Bhonsle: Coming back to the Main Bhi King Contest, through the last month we have received many entries form young children, men, women, and the elderly. They have all described some of their bravest moments, when they have truly felt like a king or queen. And from many entries, we finally have a winner. He is a 15-year-old brave young man from Goa, his name is Nihal Borkar.
For 15-year-old Nihal Borkar from Goa, it was a dream come true. Chosen from among hundreds of entries from children, Nihal was chosen winner for CNN-IBN's Main Bhi King Contest for an extraordinary act of bravery. In 2007, Nihal rescued a young boy from drowning in his native place, Goa.
On Wednesday night, Nihal was felicitated for his bravery by Bollywood king, Akshay Kumar. And the icing on the cake was a presence of a handful of other stars from Akshay's new film, Singh is Kinng.
Nihal Borkar: I am feeling really good. And I am proud of myself that I am something in my life and I am known in the state and everywhere.
It was a day when reel heroes rubbed shoulders with real heroes.
Anubha Bhonsle: Akshay, would you like to say something to Nihal?
Akshay Kumar: Nice meeting you. I am only a hero on the reel, but you are a real hero. So there is a lot of difference between me and you because you have done what very few people do. In such situations, people think should they risk their life or not when someone is drowning. What did you think? Though I don't think you must have gotten a chance to think. You must have just rushed to rescue him?
Nihal Borkar: Yes, I did not think very much. I just got into the water and I brought the boy to the shore. I felt scared but I did not think much about it then.
Anubha Bhonsle: Katrina, were some of these scenes overwhelming for you? Have you been able to push yourself to some extent as far as action is concerned?
Katrina Kaif: I didn't have to do anything extreme at all, and whatever little bit we have done in the film, I always felt very confident because Akshay was my co-star and he is one of the most experience people who can do stunts. So I felt safe because he is very confident about what he is doing.
Akshay Kumar: I like to be called a stunt man. Though in this film Katrina has done a stunt with me where she jumped from a helicopter. From 60 feet in the air into the water.
Anubha Bhonsle: The entire scene that you have picturised in Egypt, is that a part of a story or are we seeing two good looking actors in this exotic location.
Vipul Shah: Egypt is very much a part of the story. Akshay and Katrina meet for the first time in Egypt. There is a big chunk of it and it’s not just for a song.
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