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Airlift: The Akshay Kumar Connection and Irrfan Khan’s Insight
A Significant Milestone in Kumar’s Career
The 2016 film Airlift marked a major success in Akshay Kumar’s filmography. Recently, co-producer Nikkhil Advani revealed an intriguing detail about the film’s casting process. Initially, director Raja Menon aimed to cast the renowned actor Irrfan Khan in the lead role. However, in a twist, Irrfan recommended Akshay Kumar for the part, believing that Kumar’s involvement could secure a larger budget for the production.
Director’s Preference Shifted
During a conversation on Galatta Plus, Advani recounted how Raja Menon had a strong preference for Irrfan. Unfortunately, due to his commitment to another project, D-Day, getting him on board was not feasible. Nikkhil shared, “Raja Menon wanted Irrfan, which was fine for us because he was working on D-Day. I arranged a meeting with Irrfan, and he overheard us. He candidly remarked, ‘Don’t do this film with me because you will not get the budget. Go to Akshay. You know Akshay.’”
Akshay Takes Charge of the Project
Upon learning about Airlift, Akshay Kumar expressed immediate interest and actively participated in various preparatory workshops. Nikkhil described their interaction, stating, “I approached Akshay with a different film, but he dismissed it as nonsense. Then, I shared the concept of Airlift with him, mentioning that Irrfan passed on the project. He curiously asked why I had come to him. I warned him that it was a serious film requiring memorization of lines, alongside requisite workshops led by Raja Menon. Despite my reservations, Akshay was eager to be part of it. He insisted on participating in the workshops extensively.”
Looking Ahead: Akshay Kumar’s Upcoming Projects
In addition to his past successes, Akshay Kumar is set to star in the forthcoming film Khel Khel Mein. Starring alongside talents like Vaani Kapoor, Taapsee Pannu, and Ammy Virk, the film has generated buzz, especially with the recent release of its first song, Hauli Hauli, which is quickly gaining popularity. A second song titled Duur Na Karin featuring Akshay Kumar and Vaani Kapoor was released today, further building anticipation around the project.
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