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29 March 2024

Where to meet Akshay and Aishwarya in Dubai

Kumar and Bachchan will come together in the sci-fi romcom, 'Action Replayy' after working in 2004's gritty film, 'Khakhee'. (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Bindu Suresh Rai

READ: Our interview with Akshay Kumar here

Diwali celebrations kick off a bit earlier this year for Dubai-based Bollywood fans as two of India’s biggest celebrities jet into the emirate for the world premiere of their film, 'Action Replayy'.

Superstar Akshay Kumar and arguably India’s most famous female star, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, will walk the red carpet on Wednesday at the Grand Cineplex, Dubai to unveil their new sci-fi romcom, which will clash with the Ajay Devgn-Kareena Kapoor starrer, 'Golmaal 3', during the festive period.

Accompanying the two celebrity supremos to Dubai will be actress and former beauty queen Neha Dhupia and 'Action Replayy' director Vipul Shah. The premiere, which has been organised by Star Middle East television network, Sunshine Pictures Pvt Ltd, Shree International and Damas, is also giving Star Plus and Star One viewers a chance to watch the film with these famous faces and win jewellery in the bargain.

Promotional blitzkrieg

Kumar and Bachchan are leaving no stone unturned to ensure 'Action Replayy' does big business during the popular Diwali period, which historically promises big bucks for the film that sets the cash registers ringing. Bachchan, who celebrates her 37th birthday, is also apparently forgoing her celebrations with the family – father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan and husband Abhishek Bachchan – to hit the road with the cast and crew of her new film.

Trade pundits are sitting on the bench with this one, with no one ready to take a firm stand in which film will shine at the box office between 'Action Replayy' and 'Golmaal 3'. Indian box office guru, Komal Nahta stated in his column: “Box-office collections are at an all-time low, thanks partly to the dull pre-Diwali days. As the countdown to the two big Diwali releases has begun, speculation is at its peak in the trade about which of the two – 'Golmaal 3' and 'Action Replayy' – would take a better opening. 'Golmaal 3' has the advantage of the ‘Golmaal’ brand, while the songs of 'Action Replayy' are climbing the popularity charts.”

Controversies galore

Yet, amidst a volley of public appearances that included Bachchan’s dramatic entrance atop a scooter on Kumar’s reality TV show, 'Masterchef India', both the stars have faced the wrath of filmmakers and the media alike in the last few days.

First, Kumar went on record when asked about 'Action Replayy’s' USP over Diwali-rival ;'Golamaal 3', saying: “The films don’t even compare.” Rumour has it, Rohit Shetty and team from the opposing camp were none too pleased.

Then at the film’s promotional event on scion Amitabh Bachchan’s hit reality TV show, 'Kaun Banega Crorepati?' (Who Wants to be a Millianaire?), the film’s cast and crew allegedly turned up three hours late, prompting majority of the media to walk out in protest.
But it was Bachchan who in fact took the cake, and not for her birthday, but rather for not showing up for the “KBC” shoot at all.

Allegedly, the rest of the film’s cast and crew were unaware of this no-show, but reasons later emerged that the actress was uncomfortable with the money they would win on the show being donated to former beau, Salman Khan’s charity, Being Human.

Oh well, we guess when you are brandished a diva, you have to live up to those expectations. Here’s hoping the Dubai premiere goes off without a hitch.

READ: Our interview with Akshay Kumar here