No Chances To Be TakenAkshay Kumar WillGrow His Beard Full-Length To Play Sikh In Deepa Mehta’s Film

After the furore  that  was  raised  over the  apology  of a beard  that   Akshay Kumar sported as a  Sikh in  Anees Bazmi’s Singh  Is Kinng, Akshay Kumar  is  taking no  chances.

 For  the  role  of  the real-life   Sardarji who sailed in  the fateful ship named Kamagata Maru    from Hong Kong to Vancouver in 1914,  Akshay is taking no chances.

  He’ll grow  the beard  to   the  size  stipulated by  the Sikh community before plunging into  the  role in January 2010.

In fact  the  actor, smarting undrr the attack  he faced for his  improper  beard length in  Bazmi’s bearded   burlesque  has this time  decided  to set aside  all his  assignments for Kamagata Maru  to avoid continuity clashes with  other projects.

 Says   Deepa,   "Akshay is  so amazing. Considering he  has  so much work on  hand  I was  surprised when he  absolutely insisted  on  growing   a full-length beard .  One  of  the reasons I postponed  Kamagata Maru to to next year  was  so that   Akshay would  be able to  block an entire chunk of dates for my film and  keep  the beard. I  was  very sure that I  didn’t want him for a month and   then return  with  a  false beard and finish my film. It’s very important for  actors  to  respect continuity.  That’s  the   only way to work."

Deepa saw  Akshay Kumar play a Sardar  in Singh Is Kinng  before casting him   in  Kamagata Maru. "I  thought  he made a  very good Sardar. He has a very Panju-Sardar look. Akshay  has to play  a 48-year old  Sardar.  And he’s absolutely fine with  a salt-and-pepper beard."

"Akshay is  also  the film’s producer along with my  life partner David Hamilton, so  his interest  in  the film is  very very  deep," says Deepa.

Post the  fiasco that’s  Chandni Chowk to China Akshay  Kumar  is  also  counting on converting his comic currency   into something  more compelling and enduring.

According to  Deepa, Akshay Kumar  will be  seen in a  completely non-comic  serious and  politically  profound  role  in  Kamagata Maru.

"Five  years  ago Akshay  was  completely  ready  to  transform  his  image  in Water when  he was  to play the  Gandhian  reformist.  The  role in  Kamagata Maru is far more challenging." - SAMPURN