Akshay Kumar has reunited with filmmaker Anees Bazmee after a gap of 15 years. The duo previously delivered popular films such as Singh Is Kinng, Welcome and Thank You, their last collaboration, which was released in 2011. They have now joined forces once again for a new comedy titled Keralam. The film, which also stars Vidya Balan and Raashii Khanna, is set to release later this year. In an exclusive conversation with Zoom, Bazmee opened up about his long-standing working relationship with Akshay Kumar and recalled how the actor’s famously disciplined shooting schedule once led to an amusing misunderstanding.
Anees Bazmee On Akshay Kumar’s Strict Working Hours: ‘He’s Easy To Work With But…’ | Exclusive
Talking about his collaboration with described the actor as very disciplined and said he is easy to work with. However, he admitted that starting shoots so early in the morning can be a bit challenging for the rest of the unit. At the same time, he said that beginning work early also means wrapping up on time, making it a win-win situation for everyone. He also said that Akshay is an easy-going and fun person, while he himself is used to working at night.
When asked whether Akshay Kumar’s strict working hours suited his own style of working, Anees Bazmee recalled, “There was this one time when Akshay told me to meet him at 6, so I assumed it was 6 in the evening. Then I got a call from him, saying he is waiting for me. I said, ‘It’s 5 in the morning, where are you waiting for me?'”
He then realised that Akshay had meant 6 am, not 6 pm. Anees Bazmee then got ready and went to meet him. He went on to call Akshay Kumar as an early riser and revealed that, despite his own preference for working nights, the actor even broke his routine for him by filming night schedules for 10 days. Anees Bazmee praised Akshay’s dedication and understanding of cinema.
About Keralam
The film also reunites Akshay with Vidya Balan, with whom he has previously starred in Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Heyy Babyy and Mission Mangal.
Recently, Akshay announced that the Keralam schedule had been wrapped up. He thanked director Anees Bazmee, co-stars Vidya Balan and Raashii Khanna, and the entire crew for the experience, saying that working with such a wonderful team in a beautiful location made the shoot especially memorable. He also praised Anees Bazmee’s direction and expressed his appreciation for his co-stars and the crew, describing the project as a special one.