| Is that really Akshaye Khanna? |
| The bald brigade: (From l to r) Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Brad Pitt |
Clean Bald!
Akshaye Khanna shaves his hair off; says he just felt like it
Ram Kamal Mukherjee
Whether it was Saif Ali Khan's Omkara look that prompted Akshaye Khanna to take such a 'bald step', or was it a receding hairline, is a question best left unanswered. The truth of the matter is that Akshaye has a clean shaven pate these days, making him join the ranks of Brad Pitt, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and several others who have also gone bald in the recent past.
Contrary to common belief, the tonsured look was not for a film. "Well, I saw Saif Ali Khan in Omkara and thought it looked cool, so I shaved off my hair. Moreover, Saif got very good reviews for his film, so I did the same to extract good reviews," he jokes.
Will his baldness affect his shooting schedules? "I am on an extended vacation. I will not be shooting for the next three months, so I think I can afford to do as I feel. The one thing about this profession I like is that you have the freedom of doing whatever you want to do. As an actor, you have to work very hard but you can relax when you want to. I thought of shaving off my hair, because I felt like it. You don't have to have a reason for everything you do," he says.
Currently busy promoting his forthcoming venture Aap Ki Khatir, the actor says, "It's a feel-good, contemporary film." He further adds, "People have this idea that Dharmesh (Darshan) makes melodramatic and old-fashioned films, but I guess, this time audiences will be surprised."
Akshaye is also looking forward to Nikhil Advani's Salaam-E-Ishq and Anil Kapoor's Mahatma Versus Mahatma. Incidentally, Anil Kapoor was so impressed with Akshaye that he has signed him for his next home production as well. "I am looking forward to that film, because we'll be working together again after Taal," he says. The film was supposed to star Aishwarya Rai, but she opted out of the project. "Ash is not doing the film," confirms Akshaye.
On the personal front Akshaye seems to be enjoying his newfound single status, after splitting with girlfriend Tara Sharma. "I am sad and lonely... are you taking me seriously?" he smiles.
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