Bachchan to introduce Akshay Kumar in Boss

Akshay says it’s an honour;  Veena says she let go of her favourite food; Jacqueline feels ‘lucky’ to be playing a double role; Bollywood’s first superstar’s last action.

Bachchan to  introduce Akshay Kumar in BossBollywood ‘khiladi’ Akshay Kumar’s character in his forthcoming film Boss will be introduced by megastar Amitabh Bachchan. For Akshay, it is an “honour”.“It’s an honour and a privilege to have a legend like Amitabh Bachchan introduce my character in Boss. I’ve been his biggest fan since childhood and have even had the pleasure of working with him. He is an institution by himself,” Akshay said in a statement.Akshay and Amitabh have earlier worked together in movies like Khakee and Waqt: The Race Against Time.In Boss, Akshay’s character has a huge build-up before he makes an entry on screen and the makers always believed that no one other than the 70-year-old could do justice to the introduction of such a strong and larger-than-life character. Also, when the script was sent to Big B, he loved the idea and immediately agreed to be a part of the movie.“I’ve known Big B for years now because of my journalism background. But more importantly, I’ve grown up on his films. Probably, the reason why I am in movies today is because of him. When I called him and requested him to be a part of Boss, he agreed,” producer Ashwin Varde said in a statement.“It’s like a dream come true — to have a legend like him giving an introduction to the film,” he added.The megastar was given a script of the scenes well in advance. Despite his busy schedule, he made it a point to complete the dubbing at the earliest. He also improvised on the lines much to the delight of the film’s makers.Directed by Anthony D’Souza, Boss also stars Mithun Chakraborty, Shiv Pandit, Aditi Rao Hydari, Danny Denzongpa, Ronit Roy and Johnny Lever. Co-produced by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, Cape of Good Films and Ashwin Varde Productions, Boss will release in October.Veena loses 9 kgs to gain SupermodelActress Veena Malik says she had to let go of some of her favourite food items to cut down almost 9 kgs to fit into her role in the upcoming film Supermodel.“I had to work hard to fit into the character. When my producer and director Navin Batra came to sign me, they said that ‘Veena-ji, you need to cut down your weight to 47 kgs’. I was 56 kgs at that time. So to be a supermodel, I had to let go of food,” Veena said here at the music launch of the film.“Then of course, to get into the character’s emotional ups and downs while acting... that was there. I wanted to make it look very real on screen,” she added.Supermodel also stars Ashmit Patel and hits theatres Sep 27.* Veena says she let go of her favourite food.Jacqueline excited to play film director Jacqueline Fernandez, who will be seen in a double role in her upcoming film Roy, is excited that one of her characters in the film is of a movie director. She says she plans to take some tips from some director friends.“I am lucky enough to be playing a double role in the movie, one of them being a director! So I am excited about that. I will take some tips from directors I know,” the 28-year-old said here at the launch of a coffee table book.She also said that the shoot for the film begins by the end of 2013.“We haven’t started shooting for Roy yet. We will start by end of the year. It’s really interesting, I am working opposite two amazing actors,” she said.Roy stars Ranbir Kapoor and Arjun Rampal.To be directed by Vikramjit Singh, it is currently slated for release in June 2014. — IANSKhanna’s last standVeteran actor Rajesh Khanna’s last film Riyasat has got a U/A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The delayed film is now likely to release around the late superstar’s 71st birth anniversary on December 29.The film was supposed to come out on Rajesh Khanna’s birth anniversary in 2012 but it was then pushed to his death anniversary July 18 this year. However, it did not manage a release even then. But everything is in place now, says director Ashok Tyagi.“Rajesh Khanna represents life. Therefore, it was inappropriate to release his film on his death anniversary. The film is now absolutely ready for release with a U/A censor certificate,” Tyagi said.“We have issued pages in the trade magazines requesting the entire industry to support us in bringing this film to the audience,” he added.Riyasat also features Gauri Kulkarni, Aryan Vaid, Aryeman Ramsay and Raza Murad.Tyagi feels it will be ideal to release the film December 27, two days before the actor’s 71st birth anniversary.Rajesh Khanna, the first superstar of Hindi films, died after a prolonged illness in 2012. He is known for hits like Aradhana, Kati Patang, Anand, Amar Prem, Do Raaste and Aan Milo Sajna among others.