There is no competition between actors in the film industry: Akshay Kumar

Why did you choose this subject in the film 'Rustom' though it has already been tried earlier in Bollywood?

'Rustom' is completely different from the previous films which were made on this subject. It has a new screen and technique. The film consists of four to five incidents and based on these incidents, my character Rustom in the film has been developed.

Since this is a realistic topic, how much research work you had to do?

My director has gone through immense research work for two years. The writer himself was in Navy, he has also gone through a lot of research work.

The writer of the script was himself a navy guy, so did it help you in doing the work?

Yes, since the writer was a Navy guy himself, it did help. He was present throughout with us during picturisation, bytes, songs and also in the selection of costumes.

You are playing a Parsi character in the film, so did you research on Parsi rituals?

The film is not based on Paris religion so I didn't have to learn Paris' language. I just played the character in the film. My best friend and manager are also Parsi, so from them I learned about Parsi.

From 'Airlift' to 'Rustom', the time gap between one film to the other is very less, how do you manage time in a year as you are doing so many films back to back?

See a film needs only forty to forty five days for shooting. I do four films now every year though earlier I used to do six films. After doing four films also, I get around hundred days to spend with family and myself.

Salman made a video and uploaded it on social networking site to promote your film 'Rustom'. Would you like to say anything about it?

Salman is so good to make that video for my film. It is not a promotion. It also denotes that all the actors in the film industry are united and we are for each other.

So do you think the competition is diminishing in the film industry?

There is no competition between actors in the film industry. There are around 180 films released every year and the number of heroes and heroines lesser in number, so there are many films that go unrecognized.

Was it your conscious decision to do the realistic films like 'Airlift' and 'Rustom'?

It was not a conscious decision in choosing a realistic story. It just happened to me. I like this subject. I wanted to play the character of Ranjit Katyal in 'Airlift' and Rustom in this film.

You had started off the year with 'Airlift' then happened 'Houseful 3' and now 'Rustom'. Was it your plan to blend the commercial films and realistic films in a year?

I don't plan anything. I just do the films I like.

How difficult was it for you to play the character of 'Rustom' who is a patriot, lover and also a murderer?

It was not hard to play the character of Rustom because of my director. He is living with the film for two years. I didn't have to do much. I did a lot of rehearsal with the director.

IBNS-TWF