Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif intense love story ‘Humko Deewana Kar Gaye’ has just hit theatres. So Akki talks about it and his upcoming films.

How is Humko Deewana Kar Gaye different from your previous work?
To start with, Humko…’ begins where most love stories end. By which I mean, when two people are living together and everything is going well, there’s a perfect match. Suddenly, one person falls in love with somebody else. It happens in everybody’s life. Even if the person you fall in love with is imperfect for you, it happens. You can’t predict love. The USP of the film is that people can relate to this subject. Sometimes, you have to go back on your commitment. Love is not like a business deal, where you have everything planned out. It happens that you sometimes can’t work it out; you realise your heart is somewhere else. ‘Humko…’ starts at a point like that.

You've mentioned that it's a very personal story. How?
We’ve treated it with a great amount of intensity, and it has a very real slice of life. It’s taken from a real story, about a couple from Toronto. My director Raj Kanwar met them and the story has been taken from their relationship; now their marriage has lasted 32 years. It’s a wonderful story. I’m doing a love story after a long time. The last was Dhadkan. People have always told me I’m good in comedy and action. I wanted to take another step and say that I am good with romance too. So, I have a few good romantic films coming up this year. ‘Jaan-e-man’ too has an interesting romantic part.

How did you felt working with Katrina Kaif?
It was great. I think she’s a wonderful person and I admire her from coming from the UK to work in Hindi cinema without knowing the language. I think it’s amazing that she even thought she could do that! And she’s learnt Urdu, Hindi and Indian dancing, which is great. It was a pleasure working with her.

And your other co-star, Bipasha Basu?
She started her career with me, and it’s always been a pleasure working with her. She’s a talented actress, and she’s changed quite a bit from her first movie. She’s turned out to be quite a star.

She is also in another film with you, Phir Hera Pheri. Is it turning out like the first one?
I hope so. I hope people are going to enjoy it. It is a different film, but the style is the same. The characters are same - Baburao, Raju, Shyam. Hera Pheri finishes where we get lots of money because we save a kidnapped child, but what happens next? The characters now have lots of money but what now? Do they end up poorer than before? And Bipasha joins the party. It’s a fun film, about 90 per cent complete.

What else do you have this year?
I’m just doing Jaaneman and films for Vipul Shah and Rituparno Ghosh.

If a script turned you on, would you do a smaller film?
I don’t think films are smaller or bigger in terms of budget. I don’t think like that. It’s the script that makes the film, and it doesn’t matter to me how big or how small the budget is. It’s all in the script.

What kind of role you would like to do that you haven't done yet?
I think I want to work in a historical. Something like Prithviraj Chauhan. I have never been in a period film, or worn those costumes. I’d be very interested in doing a film like that.

Why don't you start the ball rolling on projects with roles that interest you?
I’ve thought about things like that, but nothing comes exactly the way you want. You get something else you’ve never thought about, and it excites you too. It’s useless thinking about one particular kind of role. Sure, you can brief writers that you need a script, but the fun isn’t there. They come up with something very strange, just because they want to make you happy. I’d rather go with a script that is bounced off me.

You're known for very intense stage performances. Is performing live a huge high?
It’s great. You can see the audience. You have eye-to-eye contact with them, and you can feel them. You can feel, at that moment, whether they are liking the show or not. And you can make changes instantly. You have to be on your feet, and very quick while thinking. I have done about 250 shows, but that fear is always there, about going on stage. It’s a totally different feeling. You can’t get that high shooting in front of a camera. I don’t think you can compare them. There’s too much energy in a stage show. You need stamina, presence of mind. I love them. The reaction you get with a live audience is something you can never feel in theatres.