Akki turns down 2 YRF offers - An article

Akshay Kumar and Yash Raj Films have finally parted ways. It is said that Akshay turned down not one but two projects of Yash Raj Films recently. Sources say that Akshay turned down the first film by quoting an astronomical amount and the second film by saying that he was not pleased with the script. This irked Aditya Chopra, the head honcho of Yash Raj Films.

Sources also say that earlier Akshay was miffed with Yash Raj Films for not giving him as much exposure as Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor in the Tashan promos. If they are to be believed, the promos will singularly focus on Saif and Kareena as the banner wants to cash in on their real life relationship. The other reason for Akshay being pushed out of the picture was that he had recently turned down their first project thus rubbing the Chopras the wrong way. Yash Chopra, who features at the top slot of Bollywood's powerful banners, is not used to actors turning down offers.

A source close to the production house says, "Yes, it's true that Akshay turned down a Yash Raj film. Obviously, the Chopras did not take it too well. After watching Akshay's performance in Tashan, the Chopras wanted him to star in another project of theirs. Aditya himself narrated the script to Akshay. However, Akshay was not entirely convinced with the story of the untitled project and turned it down. This decision caught Aditya completely off-guard."

Our source continues, "Akshay was given a complete makeover in Yash Raj Films' Dil To Pagal Hai. This film had turned his action hero image into that of a soft romantic sober look. Aditya expected Akshay to say yes at least for old times' sake, but sadly things didn't work out the way they wanted. Hence, the creative team at Yash Raj, which currently is working on the promos of Tashan, has focused on Saif and Kareena, leaving Akshay almost out of the picture. It is their way of getting back at Akshay."

However, Akshay's friends insist that since the actor is busy throughout the year with big banner films like Vipul Shah's Singh Is King, Nagesh Kukunoor's Eight By Ten, Sajid Nadiadwala's Kambakth Ishq and Nikhil Advani's Chandni Chowk To China, he could not afford to give dates to the Chopras, hence he had to refuse the two offers.