“Shah Rukh and Farah can’t ban each other from working with others” – Akshay

By Bollywood Hungama -

May 5, 2010 - 12:00 AM IST

“Shah Rukh and Farah can’t ban each other from working with others” – Akshay

If not for its camps, Bollywood wouldn't have been what it is today.

Yash Chopra and Karan Johar can't make their films without Shah Rukh Khan. Anees Bazmee, Vipul Shah and Sajid Khan swear by Akshay Kumar. Papa Roshan works mainly with beta Roshan. Mahesh Bhatt and Co. know that it is Emraan Hashmi who delivers most when it comes to their medium budget films. Sanjay Gupta and Sanjay Dutt used to be a team till there was a crack in their friendship. Aamir Khan works in well, a camp which is owned, driven and managed by only one man - Aamir Khan. And then there is Salman Khan who works with anyone and everyone depending upon which side of the bed he wakes up one fine morning.

So what happens when someone is 'accused' of penetrating his way into a camp? A camp which has delivered two mega money spinners of the current decade. A camp which had built it's foundation on a decade of friendship. A camp where no 'outsider' was allowed, especially if this very outsider happened to be an arch rival by himself. A camp comprising of Farah Khan and Shah Rukh Khan that had managed to keep all competition at bay after Main Hoon Naa and Om Shanti Om after a certain Akshay Kumar made his way in with Tees Maar Khan.

It has been months since news broke about Akshay Kumar 'sneaking' into this camp. Though all kind of accusations and conspiracy theories made headlines for weeks at stretch, the man of the moment kept quite and didn't utter a word, whether on or off the records. He continued to keep himself busy in close to half a dozen other films that he was involved in the capacity of both as an actor and a producer. He smiled it all away even as all around sinister comments were being made.

Today, he has decided to open up. No, he isn't indulging himself into any malice. He is not uncovering any big secrets. He is also not coming charging down on all the random voices that were being heard up close or from a distance. He is just sharing his point of view. A workaholic who has seldom spent his days off the sets, Akshay Kumar is surprised with all the murmurs and rumours. As the actor puts in his own words - 'Everyone has the right to earn a living'. All that he is doing is just earn a living!

"It is beyond me when some people think that Farah shouldn't have the right to work with anyone that she wants to", says Akshay in an exasperated tone, "Yes, Shah Rukh Khan and Farah Khan mean a lot to each other. But then neither can he ban her from working with others, nor can she ban him from working with other directors."

In fact Akshay had shared the same logic even earlier when Vipul Shah made a one off choice of working with Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn in London Dreams. Since Vipul and Akshay were a pair with three successful films - Aankhen, Waqt and Namastey London, there were quite a few eyebrows that were raised once Vipul moved to a different actor for his dramatic musical. However, at that time Akshay was one of the first to quash the rumours and maintained that he and Vipul harboured no ill will. Since they were anyways simultaneously working on Action Replayy, there wasn't much scope for scoop searchers as well to dig deeper.

However, the fact remains that despite this, so much has been said and written about Farah Khan opting for Akshay instead of Shah Rukh Khan in Tees Maar Khan. Really, doesn't he too feel that a lot is being read into something which is nothing but a plain and simple professional decision?

"Aah, now finally there is someone asking me a question with an open mind", Akshay brings on a smile here, "Yes, this is being made into something which it is not. At the end of the day, work is work after all. Everyone has the right to earn a living."

Now that should set the records straight.