Actor Akshay Kumar says he and superstar Salman Khan couldnt work on "KESARI" together but he is making the film with filmmaker Karan Johar.
Akshay was present at the launch of PVR Icon with Kamal Gianchandani, CEO, PVR Pictures, on Thursday here.
Salman had teamed up with Akshay for a project in which the latter was to play the hero. Salman was to co-produce it with Karan.
Asked to comment on Salman backing out of the project "Kesari", Akshay said: "Yes, we couldn't do it. I am making the film with Karan Johar and that's it."
What's the film's progress?
Akshay said: "The title has been finalised as ‘Kesari'. I will start working on the film in January. We will be continuously shooting for it after the release of 'Padman'."
Karan took to his Twiitter handle to announce the same by tweeting, “Supremely excited to coproduce with @BeingSalmanKhan #SKF on a film starring @akshaykumar directed by Anurag Singh…releasing 2018!”
Salman Khan had too tweeted, “Joining hands on a project where @akshaykumar is the hero and will be co produced by @karanjohar and #SKF.”
In July, there were reports about Salman Khan backing out of the project. However, Salman rubbished any such rumour and tweeted, “Don’t follow rumours. follow me . ek baar jo maine commitment kar di toh phir…… very much doing the film with @akshaykumar.”
But the news of Salman Khan not joining hands with Karan Johar came out to be true only when Karan’s home production Dharma Production’s official twitter handle had tweeted, “Akshay Kumar and Karan Johar proudly present Kesari based on one of the bravest battles fought in India The Battle of Saragarhi Directed by Anurag Singh and starring Akshay Kumar Releasing Holi 2019.”
During an interview with a leading Indian daily, Salman Khan revealed the reasons of him backing out of the project by stating, “Karan has his home production and I have mine. He had come to me long back with the project, but he did all the work from casting to everything. I thought just adding my name was not right.”
"Kesari" will be based on Battle of Saragarhi.
Asked about "Padman" clashing with Neeraj Pandey's "Aiyaary" at the box office on January 26 next year, Akshay said: "Both the films are absolutely different from each other. Neeraj Pandey (director) is a dear friend.
"And, yes, this word ‘clash' has actually come from media. We have no problem in releasing films. There are around 4,000-5,000 screens in India and my film is screened in 2,800 screens. I think it's fair enough."
