No Akki or Sush in Aankhen 2

By Subhash K Jha

Producer Gaurang Doshi lying low after the debacle of his Deewaar: Let's Bring The Heroes Home is all set to return with two projects.

"One is a quirky sentimental romantic comedy called Happy Birthday to be directed by Sriram (Ek Hasina Thi) Raghavan. It stars John Abraham," reveals Gaurang.

However the Big One from Doshi's production house is a sequel to their 2002 hit Aankhen. In this extended season of sequels when every film from Mr India to No Entry is poised to have a successor Aankhen seems just what the hit-doctor ordered.

"And if you remember," Gaurang nudges the memory, "Aankhen had not just an open ending, but two open endings, one for the Indian market and the other for the overseas audiences. My script writers and I can take forward the story from any of the two endings. We've already started working on it."

The problem is, Gaurang had a massive fall-out with director Vipul Shah during the making of the first Aankhen.

"No problem!" Gaurang retorts. "Who said anyone is indispensable? We survived without Mrs Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Desai. I've got (actor-director) Sachin Pilgaonkar to direct the sequel. Why Sachin? Well, I've seen his work in Marathi films. It's outstanding.

Sachin had some unfortunate experiences as a Hindi film director (he directed Prem Deewane with Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit and Pooja Bhatt for Subhash Ghai). I've coaxed him back into doing a Hindi film. Sachin is very excited about doing an Aankhen sequel, and about directing Mr Bachchan."

Yes, from among the original cast Big B and Paresh Rawal have already been sounded out. But don't expect Akshay Kumar, Arjun Rampal and Sushmita Sen in the sequel.

Akshay and Gaurang had a massive showdown when the producer refused to arrange bulk passes for Akshay's family for the pre-release screening of Aankhen. They also had monetary issues. Arjun felt he had got a raw deal when his only romantic song with Sushmita was edited out, and Sushmita openly supported Arjun.

Gaurang has put his stars' ego behind him. "Like I said no one is indispensable. If Akshay Kumar and Vipul Shah are working together, I am glad. They deserve one another. I'm much too small a producer to work with such great artistes. I've no choice but to replace them."

Gaurang is on the verge of signing two topnotch stars in place of Kumar and Rampal.

"While the first Aankhen was based on a play, the sequel will be entirely original. Of course the protagonists will be blind. But this time the producer won't," Gaurang concludes ominousl