Akshaye Khanna takes a break

Akshaye Khanna takes a break

After shooting for five films in a row, the actor heads to New York for a breather

Ram Kamal Mukherjee

An otherwise choosy Akshaye Khanna went into an overdrive last year by working in five films. The result, the actor is suffering from exhaustion and has decided to recharge his batteries by taking a 20-day break by heading out to New York.

It also happens to be his best friend Jahangir's birthday. "It's going to be a close-knit friends and family affair. I like to be with people I am comfortable with. I am not a filmi guy and don't intend to be one ever," says Akshaye.

So why did the actor decide to take on so much work last year? "Since the offers were good I did them all. It has been hectic and I need to unwind and recharge my batteries now," he says.

Now, Akshaye is eagerly awaiting the release of Ratan Jain's Aap Ki Khatir where he is paired opposite Priyanka Chopra. "This is the first time Priyanka and I have been paired together. She is extremely talented and I had a blast working with her." Akshaye has also completed Nikhil Advani's Salaam E Ishq and Anil Kapoor's home production Mahatma Vs Mahatma. The buzz is that Kapoor impressed with the rushes of Mahatma Vs Mahatma, signed the actor for his next film where they are trying to rope in Aishwarya Rai too. "It is too early to talk about it. Let things get finalised," is all the actor is willing to say.

Moreover, Akshaye's working style has undergone change, and he does not adhere to the one project at one time formula any more. "I like to push the envelope as an actor," he says. "It's not a question of being choosy. It's about finding roles that excite me. There is a lot of work, but how much one takes on depends entirely on the individual."

Not known to many is that Subhash Ghai had given Akshaye the option of choosing between his role and the one played by Shahid Kapoor. Akshaye opted for the role with lesser screen time. "I found the character of the investigative officer fascinating," he says. "I couldn't be happier at this point of my career. All my films are special. I love every moment of shooting. I couldn't ask for more. And I must add that the media has always been fair to me."