Akshay Kumar talks about new film Oh My God

Plus, Anurag Kashyap to produce a family comedy about food; Pakistani actress Veena Malik to star in film about fashion; Salman Khan focuses on Dabangg 2.

Akshay Kumar says he enjoyed making his new comedy, Oh My God. IANS

Akshay Kumar talks about new film Oh My God

The actor Akshay Kumar says his latest film, the comedy Oh My God, was a result of his passion for the classic Gujarati play,Kanji Virrudh Kanji, which the film is based on. "I did not make Oh My God to earn money. I made the film because I loved the play. I wanted to share what I learnt from it with the audience," says the 45-year-old star. "So there are no expectations from this film in terms of box-office results." Directed by Umesh Shukla and co-starring Mithun Chakraborty and Paresh Rawal, the film tells the story of an atheist whose perspective on life changes when his antiques shop is destroyed in an earthquake. Kumar says that, regardless of the seemingly serious storyline, the movie is a comedy the audience will love: "That was our treatment with the film - to make it as fun as possible." - IANS

Salman Khan focused on next project

The Bollywood superstar Salman Khan says he's delighted by the box office success of his recent film, Ek Tha Tiger, since it was released last month. The action thriller, directed by Kabir Khan and featuring Katrina Kaif, made history by becoming the second Bollywood film to gross more than 3 billion rupees (Dh204m), a feat first achieved by the 2009 comedy 3 Idiots. But Khan, 46, stresses he's no longer thinking about the film's profits. Rather, he's focused on shooting for his next project, Dabangg 2, the sequel to his 2010 hit. "I'm not in the business of setting any records. I wake up every day concentrating on Dabangg 2 now. I've learnt that if I give my best to whatever I'm doing at the moment, then things such as box-office collections will just follow," says the actor. Dabangg 2 is directed by Arbaaz Khan and co-stars Sonakshi Sinha, Prakash Raj and Vinod Khanna. It is scheduled to be released in India on December 21. - IANS

Kashyap produces family comedy

The director Anurag Kashyap, known for his dark films such as Gangs of Wasseypur, has announced his next project and it's not what you would expect: a family comedy called Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana. "It's my first time making a family entertainer. My intention is to reach out beyond my usual audience," says the award-winning 40-year-old director. "This is India's first 'food' film and has all the ingredients for a delicious comedy." Directed by the newcomer Sameer Sharma, the film follows the lives of a Punjabi family who owns a popular restaurant. It stars Kunal Kapoor and Huma Qureshi and will be released in India in November. Kashyap is currently in preproduction for his new drama, Bombay Velvet, starring Ranbir Kapoor. - IANS

Veena Malik headlines fashion movie

The Pakistani actress Veena Malik says her new film, Supermodel, explores the glitz and glamour of the world of fashion, but also has a strong emotional touch. The movie is said to be loosely based on the life of the supermodel Naomi Campbell. "When it comes to the story and concept, glamour naturally comes to mind. But Supermodel has many other elements to it. And there's a lot of drama in it, too," Malik told reporters while attending a promotional photo shoot for the film on Monday. "Don't be fooled by the glamorous clothes I'm wearing in the movie - there also is plenty of depth." Directed by Navin Batra, Supermodel will have Malik reuniting on the big screen with her former boyfriend, Ashmit Patel. - IANS