Chandni
Chowk
To
China
may
not
have
taken
a
huge
opening
as
was
expected
out
of
it.
However,
a
large
section
of
media
has
chosen
to
target
Akshay
Kumar
and
have
started
writing
obituaries
about
him.
Unreasonable
as
it
may
sound;
the
backlash
seems
to
be
completely
uncalled
for,
especially
for
a
man
who
till
about
a
fortnight
back
was
hailed
as
'the
darling
of
the
masses'.
Vipul
Shah,
Akshay's
friend,
director
and
producer,
gets
into
a
freewheeling
chat
with
us
and
shares
his
views
about
the
reasons
that
have
perhaps
led
to
such
'venom
being
spewed
on
Akshay
Kumar'
(in
his
own
language).
Over
to
Vipul!
Mission
'Target
Akshay'
"I
think
the
only
thing
that
Akshay
has
done
wrong
is
that
he
has
never
been
a
part
of
any
camp.
He
has
never
picked
up
any
favourites
with
media
or
has
tied
up
with
journalists
(it's
a
shame
that
some
of
them
are
called
journalists).
Unfortunately
he
is
not
a
part
of
any
politics
and
believes
in
the
policy
of
'do
your
work
and
go
home'.
Today,
when
people
are
getting
an
opportunity
to
tarnish
and
target
him,
he
doesn't
have
people
to
defend
him.
Everyone
is
clearly
having
a
field
day."
All
HITS
forgotten?
"And
by
the
way,
why
are
we
forgetting
that
he
is
the
same
man
who
in
the
last
3
years
has
seen
21
films
of
his
getting
released
out
of
which
17
have
been
hits.
He
is
the
most
consistent
actor,
star
and
a
lot
more
than
that.
Just
because
one
film
of
his
doesn't
take
a
kick
start
as
expected,
people
out
there
have
started
making
judgments.
It's
like
Sachin
Tendulkar
failing
in
one
innings
and
people
saying
that
he
should
retire!
See,
these
kinds
of
elements
are
always
there
and
neither
Akshay
nor
any
of
his
directors
or
producers
would
be
bothered
about
it."
Of
course
Akshay
is
disappointed!
"Akshay
is
extremely
concerned
about
the
kind
of
backlash
coming
towards
him
and
the
film.
He
is
feeling
at
a
certain
level
that
despite
what
media
has
to
say
about
the
film,
his
audience
should
not
feel
let
down.
It
can
happen
to
the
best
of
the
people
but
the
way
stories
are
being
generated,
it
seems
as
if
Akshay
has
almost
finished
the
entire
industry
with
just
one
film.
What
are
we
smoking?
It's
really
sad!
People
should
realize
that
he
is
the
only
actor
who
does
4
films
a
year
and
still
sees
so
much
of
success.
Now
today,
if
you
want
to
crucify
him
then
well,
only
God
can
help
you."
The
'J'
factor
at
play?
"Jealousy
-
I
guess
that
too
has
played
a
major
role
in
the
kind
of
backlash
that
is
being
generated.
They
feel
that
Akshay
earns
a
lot
of
money
and
I
have
realized
that
in
my
interaction
with
people.
They
are
jealous
about
him
reaching
this
position
and
now
they
have
got
a
chance
to
open
their
mouths.
Well,
do
that
as
long
as
you
don't
misuse
the
freedom
of
expression.
But
please
don't
jump
to
conclusions.
Otherwise
it
would
be
a
shameful
incident
in
Indian
cinema
when
so-called
underperformance
of
one
film
would
lead
to
a
select
bunch
of
people
trying
to
finish
him
off.
Well,
keep
trying
because
ultimately
audience
would
anyways
come
to
see
his
next
film."
Why
are
we
demoralizing
the
industry?
"While
media
and
some
people
with
vested
interest
are
targeting
a
man
who
has
come
up
to
such
a
level
through
so
many
hardships
in
life
and
done
something
that
people
can
only
dream
to
achieve,
they
are
only
demoralizing
others
in
the
industry.
Akshay
is
a
man
who
has
come
from
nowhere
and
created
a
space
for
himself.
Today,
you
want
to
ignore
all
his
hard
work
put
for
so
many
years;
the
ton
loads
of
entertainment
he
has
provided
to
millions
out
there.
Show
me
one
actor
whose
film
hasn't
lived
up
to
expectations.
When
you
see
CC2C,
Akshay
has
tried
his
best.
Now
may
be
you
like
the
film
or
not
is
a
different
question
but
can
you
say
that
Akshay
hasn't
made
an
effort?
There
is
a
limit
to
what
an
actor
can
do!"
Akshay
should
retire?
What
nonsense!
"If
you
want
to
say
that
because
of
one
film
an
actor
should
retire
then
I
would
say
that
please
watch
your
mouth
and
language.
Because
I
am
so
sure
that
Akshay
would
deliver
a
hit
next,
and
that
should
be
soon,
and
once
that
happens,
the
very
same
people
would
be
touching
his
feet.
That
day
is
not
far
off!
Suddenly
there
is
a
whole
mission
to
'Kill
Akshay'.
Well,
let
me
tell
you
that
he
is
much
stronger
a
person
that
he
won't
die
because
of
one
CC2C.
He
won't
vanish
and
instead
would
do
a
lot
more
for
people.
So
please
save
your
opinion
because
tomorrow
you
would
be
returning
to
him
for
an
interview
and
a
front
page
cover!"
It's
not
only
about
Akshay
"Yes,
Akshay
happens
to
be
a
very
near
person
in
my
life
but
honestly
speaking,
Anyone
including
myself
would've
been
disappointed
if
people
would
have
talked
in
the
same
way.
What
disgusts
me
most
is
the
attitude
of
some
people
in
India
who
are
targeting
an
actor.
It
is
sad
because
at
the
time
when
the
industry
is
not
going
through
its
best
patch,
we
are
not
supporting
each
other.
Seriously,
we
don't
need
enemies
from
outside
when
we
have
a
good
chunk
of
them
from
inside
the
industry.
These
are
the
people
who
are
harming
themselves.
At
the
end
of
the
day,
this
industry
sees
collective
success
and
failure.
If
one
film
does
well,
it
benefits
10
more
films
that
are
coming
next.
And
if
one
fails,
it
impacts
10
more
which
are
going
to
be
released
next."
Am
I
angry?
No!
"I
am
not
angry
at
the
mischief
makers;
I
am
just
analyzing
the
situation
with
a
balanced
approach
and
feeling
sad
at
our
outlook
towards
our
colleagues.
If
we
continue
to
have
such
an
outlook
in
the
times
when
the
industry
is
not
going
through
the
best
time
then
obviously
our
growth
should
be
restricted.
We
pull
each
other
down
rather
than
supporting,
hence
we
deserve
to
remain
at
a
lower
level.
My
point
is,
let's
forget
about
Akshay
and
think
about
yourself.
You
are
just
damaging
yourself!"
Akshay
is
not
alone
"I
can
recount
100
such
cases
when
someone
has
been
pulled
down
so
badly.
A
few
months
back,
it
happened
to
Himesh
Reshammiya.
Earlier,
after
Saawariya,
Sanjay
Leela
Bhansali
was
said
to
be
finished.
Harman
got
to
hear
so
much
due
to
Love
Story
2050.
After
Drona,
Abhishek
was
written
off
and
even
though
Dostana
was
a
success,
a
large
section
of
media
didn't
want
to
believe
it
earlier
on
but
later
relented.
This
is
our
cynicism
at
play
and
mind
you,
one
film
cannot
make
or
break
anyone.
Forget
a
superstar;
it
could
even
be
the
case
for
a
newcomer.
Yes,
I
choose
to
be
vocal
about
it
because
perhaps
this
is
what
the
first
time
when
it
is
not
just
backlash
but
venom
being
spewed
out.
I
have
never
seen
something
like
this
before
and
I
hope
I
don't
see
it
ever
again!"
Story first published: Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 16:23 [IST]