Akki, a Sardar again?

  • IndiaGlitz, [Tuesday,December 29 2009]

Now one maybe taken back to his earlier ‘Singh Is Kinng’ image... However, Nikhil Advani the director of ‘Patiala House’ claims that although Akshay Kumar plays a Sardar in the film, it wouldn’t be another ‘Singh Is Kinng’. Stated Nikhil, “My film has nothing in common with Singh Is Kinng. Akshay is a Sardar, but a mona sardar.”

‘Patiala House’ is based on the Sikh community residing in Southall, Great Britain and revolves around the old and new generation of the Sikhs.

It is heard that the filmmaker had taken the film’s script to narrate it to the Southhall Gurdwara committee heads. After listening to the concept, the Sikh elders were quite moved and offered to help in every way to make Patiala House authentic, said Nikhil. “Many of the Sikh elders at the Gurdwara had lived through the infamous Southall racial riots of 1979 where my film is partially set. When I narrated my theme to them they had tears in their eyes. Patiala House is like old wounds being re-opened for them. But it’s a story that must be told,” quoted the director.

According to sources, the shooting of ‘Patiala House’ is up and running in the Film City and is heard that the replica of London’s Asian hub Southall area will be erected there next. Around 12 British-Asian actors, between the ages of 16 and 30, have been flown in to play the roles of the third generation of Sikhs in Britain.

Giving an insight of the film, the director shared, “Like Billy Eliott where the father is a coal miner but the son wants to be a dancer. In my film, Rishi Kapoor feels his dreams as a Sikh immigrant in England are being destroyed by his son. But the son Akshay Kumar has his own dreams to pursue.”