Sonakshi Sinha’s Akira comes under threat with competition from Jackie Chan’s Skiptrace : Bollywood News

Jackie Chan and Sonakshi Sinha may not have anything in common on the surface. But this week they will both be fighting (in more ways than one) for box-office space in Indian movie theatres.

Sonakshi Sinha’s Akira comes under threat with competition from Jackie Chan’s Skiptrace

It's an unexpected blow for Sonakshi Sinha's debut as an action hero in the Japanese-sounding but very desi Akira. The ultimate action superstar Jackie Chan's new bone-cruncher Skiptrace , directed by Renny (Diehard) Harlin in which Chan plays a detective from Hong Kong who partners with an American gambler (played by Johnny Knoxville), is all set to storm the box-office worldwide , including India.

It's a huge setback for Ms Sinha's sinuous stunts because, as one of India's topmost action stars succinctly puts it, "No one takes panga with Jackie Chan at the box-office." There is more distressing news for Akira. Chan's Skiptrace is being released in dubbed Hindi, Telugu and Tamil versions, thereby capturing a sizeable portion of the market that would perhaps, just perhaps, have opted for Sonakshi's stunts over Jackie Chan's action (miracles do happen in this country).

As things stand now, Akira is placed at a distressing disadvantage vis-a-vis Jackie Chan.

A major film producer who doesn't wish to be named says, "There was very low buzz for Akira in the first place. This is surprising, considering director Murugadoss' two Hindi film so far Ghajini and Holiday were big hits. Traditionally, Bollywood films about female action stars died a quiet death after the stunt actress Fearless Nadia who ruled the box-office in the 1930s. Also, Sonakshi lacks the star power to carry a film on her shoulders. Perhaps Akira could have had more face value with Deepika Padukone or Priyanka Chopra in the lead."

Another trade analyst Amod Mehra is less optimistic about Akira, "As there is no buzz nor any awareness of the film, it will go unnoticed."

Adds film critic Raja Sen, " I have no idea what Akira will hold but I remain extremely wary of Mr. Murugadoss whose Ghajini re-instated Hindi cinema on the road to making sloppy South remakes. Hopefully this isn't here to do the same thing to our actresses. Then again, that might be interesting."