Zayed jumps from 8 story building-article

By Subhash K Jha

Earlier this week Apoorva Lakhia and Zayed Khan had a heated argument on location for Mission Istanbul in Istanbul.

Says Lakhia, "He wanted to do a risky stunt himself. I refused. We rehearsed it with a double. But at the last minute Zayed was adamant. He insisted on doing it even as I protested."

As the whole unit in Istanbul watched with mouths open, Zayed Khan crashed through a glass window and plunged to the street down below from the 8th floor of a high-rise into a truck on the road.

Director Apoorva Lakhia was aghast. "If I had my way I'd have definitely not allowed it. We're in a foreign land. And on top of it my producer Suniel Shetty's partner Shhabir Boxwallah had to rush back to Mumbai because his mom was ill.

Almost the entire unit is composed of young people—Zayed, Viviek Oberoi, etc. We feel quite bereft. I've to take production decisions which I hate. Fortunately Anna (Suniel) is arriving tonight. I can relax then. And Anna can take responsibility for daredevilry like Zayed's."

Adds Suniel, "With Apu in Turkey I really don't need to worry. In eight days he has canned some of the best action scenes we've ever seen in our cinema. Plus he's sending back footage for me to see constantly. I join the unit tomorrow. I'm taking my wife and kids along since it's their Diwali holiday."

Adds Apu from Istanbul, "As winter approaches the days out here are getting shorter. By November-end it will be evening by 4 pm. I need to complete all my outdoor shooting as soon as possible….So far the shooting has been awesome."