With the phenomenal success of Singh is Kinng, the expectations for Akshay Kumar’s next film, Chandni Chowk to China, is already getting pretty high. However, it seems fans are going to have to wait a bit longer to see the film. Originally scheduled for a Diwali release it now might not be out until December. Director Nikhil Advani recently explained why and also talked a bit about the film including Deepika’s stunts and he surprisingly calls Chandni Chowk a children’s film.
Advani did confirm that they film is inspired by Akshay’s real life, “The film’s flavour comes from Akshay’s real life. He’s a boy from Chandni Chowk (in Old Delhi) who went to Bangkok as a cook. My writer Sridhar Raghavan wrote the role with Akshay’s real-life story in mind. The character’s personality comes alive through Akshay. Thanks to him, we finished ahead of schedule.”
To prepare for the film Akshay made Advani watch many many Kung Fu films, “Before I started making this film my interest in the martial arts was restricted to Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Bruce Lee, and the Crouching Tigers of the world. But Akshay brought out the hidden dragon in me. He made me watch a lot of action scenes. Before we left for China he’d make me sit down every morning and make me watch one Kung Fu film and explain the subtexts. By the time we left to shoot, I understood the martial arts much better.”
With the film being full of action scenes, some incredibly on top of the Great Wall of China, not only Akshay but also co-star Deepika Padukone had to do some pretty dangerous stunts. It seems that Akki’s “daredevilness” rubbed off on Deepika because she did many of the stunts herself and without wires! “She’s very athletic, it runs in her family. Then there was Akshay Kumar to inspire her. Akshay had done so much on-screen action. It was a novel experience for Deepika. And she sailed through the action. She worked really hard to get the posture and power in the action scenes. Those who’ve seen her in Om Shanti Om will be shocked,” Advani said.
Though reading about all the stunts and the story one would not think this is a children’s film but the director affirmed that it was, “Chandni Chowk to China is a children’s film. I don’t think kids will try to attempt to climb the nearest wall to fight after watching the film. But I think we’ll have lots of kids joining karate classes.”
Shooting is complete but the post-production is taking longer than expected hence the delay for release in theaters. “But the post-production is very complicated. The action sequences are like nothing we generally see. The story doesn’t stop. The action builds the plot and characters. We’ve shot it exactly the way we want. I don’t want to rush the release. Akshay’s superstardom isn’t going away anywhere.”
We will keep you up to date on all the Chandni Chowk to China news including when it will roar into theaters so keep watching this space for more!
