15 years of Singh is Kinng: Anees Bazmee reveals Akshay Kumar by no means learn the entire script of the movie

Anees Bazmee solely had a tough idea in thoughts and within the midst of growing this concept, he reached out to Akshay Kumar, and the actor readily agreed to be part of the undertaking with out pondering twice. “I remember Akshay was shooting for a film in a different country. So I called him, shared the idea and within five minutes, he was on board,” remembers the writer-director, as his action-comedy clocks 15 years of its launch. Sharing how the actor had immense religion in him, Bazmee provides, “After that, Akshay got so busy with other projects that we could never narrate the whole script to him.”

While’ the director wrote the script preserving in thoughts a younger man hailing from Punjab, the character of Kumar enjoying a Singh and sporting a turban was not initially included. “That decision was made much later because I wanted to present Akshay in a fresh and unique avatar… to showcase something that he had not previously done. “Initially, even the film’s title was different, and Singh is Kinng was finalised at a later stage,” he reveals.

Elaborating extra on how this concept (of exhibiting Kumar as a Sikh) got here into play, Bazmee recounts a really attention-grabbing anecdote. “I randomly landed on the set where Akshay was shooting for some other project. I took a turban and asked him to wear it. When I saw him, I was sure that this is how I want to carve this character called Happy Singh,” shares Bazmee, including that Kumar additionally immediately agreed. “Maybe because he had never played a sardar before. Slowly and steadily, the entire script was tweaked keeping the Sikh community in mind. We decided to cast other actors who would fit the part and look convincing as Sikhs. We even shot in Punjab, surrounded by sardars, who showed so much excitement when told that the film was named Singh is Kinng,” notes Bazmee.

While the movie had an ensemble forged together with actors Katrina Kaif, Sonu Sood, Kirron Kher, late Om Puri, Neha Dhupia, and was extensively shot in Punjab, Bazmee tells us how a number of native actors from the area expressed their need to be a part of the movie. “They were so excited to act in the film, so we created roles for them. Humne kaafi aise scene introduce kare aur usme unse act karwaya,” remembers the 60-year-old.

However, upon its launch in 2008, the movie landed in controversy when some folks had been offended with the portrayal of Sikh group. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) requested for a ban on film, saying it confirmed Kumar’s character sporting a trimmed beard. However Bazmee says he made the movie with purest intention. “I hold them in highest regards. In fact, while shooting the film, I wore a turban out of respect for the Sikh community,” he mentions, including on a lighter observe that, “On the first day, when I went to the set wearing a turban, nobody recognised me. I heard people asking Anees kaha hain…Anees nahi aaye.”