Wasim Akram training Akki to bowl in the World Cup

By Subhash K Jha

Patiala House which Akshay Kumar is currently shooting at Film City will shortly move to the outdoors of London. And with good reason.

Akshay Kumar plays a cricketer from London. A bowler to be more precise. The cricket sequences, according to director Nikhil Advani, will be shot at the best and biggest stadiums of London.

Says the director, “Akshay will be shown playing at the World Cup. He had better look professional doing the bowling.We will shoot the cricket match at the Lords and Oval cricket grounds in London.”

Permission for these have been obtained months in advance. And to train Akshay for his bowling the director has the world's greatest living fast bowler Wasim Akram. Akshay has met Wasim Akram. The two start training shortly.

Wasim, currently mourning his wife's sudden death, has been roped in after much persuasion.

Says Nikhil, “It wasn't easy to convince Wasim. But we were adamant that Akshay would play a world-class cricketer and that too a bowler. We've never had a hero who's a bowler. They are always batting on the cricket field.

There's almost a ballet-like choreographic precision when a hero is captured bowling on camera.I think bowling is a far more intricate exercize than batting.”

Akshay intends to devote considerable time with Wasim Akram as soon his back injury is healed. A lot of other retired and active cricketers including Imran Khan are being roped in to make appearances with Akshay in Patiala House.

Informs Nikhil, “A substantial part of our budget is going into hiring these cricketers for the climax game. We want the game to look as real as it can get.”

Interestingly the climactic cricket game in David Dhawan's Hook Ya Crook has been delayed. Though it started two years after David's film Patiala House may complete its shooting and release before Hook Ya Crook.

John Abraham will have to wait to show his batting skills to the audience. Bowler Akshay maidaan maar gaya.