Akshaye Khanna back as a baddie

The actor will be seen in a significant role in Rohit Dhawan's upcoming comedy after a five-year absence.

Akshaye Khanna, who was last seen on the big screen in Farah Khan's 2010 film Tees Maar Khan, where he played an actor pining for an Oscar, is all set to make a grand comeback. Mirror has learnt that he has given the nod to Rohit Dhawan's yet-unnamed action comedy. The twist in the story is that Akshaye returns not as a nayak but as a khalnayak.

A source close to the development told Mirror, "It took a lot of cajoling to get the nod from Akshaye. He will play a smart-talking villain who rattles off one wisecrack after another. He liked the script and the modalities are fast being worked out between the producer, Sajid Nadiadwala, and Akshaye, who has asked for a sizable remuneration."

The source adds that although offers are still coming his way, the talented actor has become super-selective. But what impressed him about Rohit's script was an interesting combo of hardcore action and slapstick comedy.

"The character has a flashy, slightly overthe-top wardrobe and Akshay will be seen in a completely new avatar. He hasn't played such a flamboyant character before. The film goes on floors early next month and will be shot in India and abroad," added the source.

The actor, who disappeared from the Bollywood radar, had played the villain to perfection in Abbas Mustan's 2008 thriller, Race and before that in the director duo's Humraaz in 2002. His last showbiz stint was a voice part in Nikhil Advani's animated feature, Delhi Safari (2012).