From punchlines to punches

The actor may have been a tad slow in catching up with the recent trend of action films,but he is realigning his strategy to play to the gallery yet again. To that end,he has signed up to do the sequel of 2010’s Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai with director Milan Luthria. With this,he steps away from his clique of David Dhawan,Anees Bazmee,Shirish Kunder and Vipul Shah. The 43-year-old admits that after all these years of aiming at commercial success,he is now also ready to do a film for his creative satisfaction. “I’m close to signing up with one of the new filmmakers who are redefining Indian cinema.” Though he claims it’s too early to reveal names,Kumar is said to be working with Dibakar Banerjee in the remake of the classic Seeta Aur Geeta.

Currently in London to shoot for Rohit Dhawan’s Desi Boyz,Kumar is also promoting his upcoming Thank You in order to ensure an overseas success. A comedy by Bazmee,the film,in his words,is the story of crook husbands and their gullible wives. It also stars Bobby Deol,Suneil Shetty,Irrfan,Sonam Kapoor,Celina Jaitley and Rimi Sen. “I play a marriage doctor who gets the three married couples separated. Why I do it is for the audience to find out,” he says about his character in the movie. However,the actor does clarify that the film doesn’t peddle male chauvinism and at the end of the story there is a lesson. “It tells women to not be so trusting of their men and to catch their mischief early.”

Thank You sees Kumar return on screen with Shetty,with whom he forms one of the most popular on-screen pairings. There were reports earlier that the two couldn’t see eye to eye. “How can I do one film a year on an average with a guy I don’t get along with?” he retorts,dismissing the rumours. The duo was also to be seen in Hera Pheri 4 together this year,but the star confirms that the film has been shelved for now.

The actor,however,has other comedies lined up for the year — Sajid Khan’s Housefull 2,Desi Boyz and Joker,the 3-D fantasy adventure by Kunder. Unlike most other toplining actors who are seen on the big screen mostly once in a year,Kumar always has at least three releases annually,not to mention international tours and a television show. “Well,it’s not as if I’m cramming up my schedule,” he defends himself,“This is my pace. If I work any slower or lesser,I’ll feel crippled.”