From the past couple of days there have been a lot of speculations about what R Balki is upto post Paa. Finally, he has locked his star cast that marks the debut of Kamal Haasan and Sarika’s younger daughter Akshara Haasan. Amitabh Bachchan and Dhanush would also be part of this project.
There has been a lot of buzz regarding Akshara Haasan’s Bollywood film debut, who was busy studying music and filmmaking till now. She felt that she was not cut for being behind the camera.
Sarika even put Akshara on to her friend Rahul Dholakia with whom she has worked in films, Parzania and Society, so that she could learn direction. Akshara will finally make her big screen debut.
“R Balki spotted Akshara, which she was assisting Rahul Dholakia. He offered her a role in his new film. And Akshara took the plunge,” says a family friend of Kamal Haasan.
Interestingly Akshara is paired with Dhanush in Balki’s film. Dhanush is a dear friend of Akshara’s sister Shruti, and also the son-in-law of Kamal Haasan’s arch-rival Rajinikanth.
While Dhanush and Akshara would star opposite one another, the stellar role is played by Big B in Balki’s proposed film which starts next month.
Kamal Haasan had said a while ago, “She has assisted Mr Rahul Dholakia. I think she is more keen on filmmaking than acting. Every time Akshara stands behind the camera and says, ‘This is where I want to be’, I am reminded of myself. I started behind the camera and gradually moved to the front. Maybe she too will do so. But not right now.”
Dhanush made his mark in Bollywood with Anand Rai’s Raanjhanaa and is very excited to be a part of this yet to be titled project. “My next Hindi film is with Balki Sir and I am every excited about it. Also, it would be a privilege to share screen space with Big B himself,” posted Dhanush on his Twitter page.
R Balki first made his mark in Bollywood in the year 2007 with Cheeni Kum with Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu, followed by Paa in 2009 with Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Vidya Balan. Post this he took a break to produce his wife Gauri Shinde’s directorial venture English Vinglish starring Sri Devi.
R Balki’s latest film is expected to go on floor early nest year and is slated for a 2015 release.
