Arshad, Akshaye to tickle funny bones with ‘Short Kut…’ (IANS Movie Preview)

NEW DELHI - Think of Arshad Warsi and a smile comes to one’s face instantly courtesy his immaculate comic timing. The actor is once again is set to entertain audiences along with Akshaye Khanna in Short Kut - The Con Is On that releases Friday.

Already on fire, courtesy Kabir Khan’s New York and Sabbir Khan’s Kambakkht Ishq, the box office just might be able to move to the next gear with the comedy.

Anil Kapoor’s third production, Short Kut - The Con Is On has been directed by Neeraj Vora and stars Amrita Rao in female lead.

The film is actually a remake of Roshan Andrews’ Malayalam movie “Udayananu Tharam”. Initially written in Hindi by Anees Bazmee, the script was improvised by Vora on Anil’s request.

Set in Bollywood, the film is about two strugglers - Raju (Arshad) who makes it big as a superstar after stealing a script and Shekhar (Akshaye) who continues to struggle as a writer-director after his script gets stolen.

Things take a comic turn when Mansi (Amrita), a leading actress, marries Akshaye, but gets involved professionally with Arshad. Fun-on-the-run ensues when Shekhar has to direct his debut film with Raju in the lead.

“The film is actually not an out and out comedy…it’s got a story and it’s dramatic. But I bring in the humour in the film despite the fact that I am the villain and I play a bad guy. Akshaye and Amrita are the hero and heroine in the film, Arshad told IANS.

The film will see Amrita in her glamorous avatar.

Commenting upon her makeover, she said: I’m playing an actress in the film. Neeraj Vora wanted to highlight the personal life of an actress through my character…I wanted to do something different with the styling of this character and so the new look.”

Not many know that Anil was to play Akshay’e role in the film.

I’m playing a struggling assistant who wants to become a successful director. Earlier Anil was supposed to do my role and I was to do Arshad’s but later he decided just to produce it and not to get into acting, said Akshaye.

On the music front, composer trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have failed to strike chords for the audiences.

While, the promos of the film are looking worth watching, but Vora said that “it is to be seen if ‘Short Kut…’ manages to make its mark in the league of Bollywood comedies.”