"CC2C has me in my elements" - Akshay Kumar
Akshay
Kumar
may
be
treated
like
a
God
in
Chandni
Chowk
and
is
arguably
one
of
the
biggest
movie
stars
in
India,
but
just
a
couple
of
years
ago
Akki,
as
we
call
him,
couldn't
even
pitch
an
idea
in
China
or
for
that
matter,
Hollywood.
However,
all
that
changed
for
Kumar
when
he
signed
Nikhil
Advani's
Chandni
Chowk
To
China.
It
must
have
taken
more
than
just
convincing
our
Chinese
neighbours
to
do
a
cross
over
film
with
Akshay
in
the
lead.
But
our
Khiladi
Kumar
weaved
his
magic.
It
worked.
The
deal
was
signed.
India's
first
ever
Kung-Fu
comedy
with
Bollywood
and
Chinese
stars
was
to
be
made
and
have
a
world
wide
premiere
in
L.A,
Toronto,
New
York
and
London.
It's
a
dream
come
true
for
the
martial
arts
maestro,
not
only
can
he
finally
high
kick
his
way
around
the
Great
Wall
of
China
after
years
in
the
mainstream
movie
wilderness,
but
more
importantly,
it
means
he's
at
last
achieved
his
life-long
ambition
to
play
the
real
Akshay
Kumar
before
he
entered
films
-
a
cook.
We
got
hold
of
the
busiest
actor
in
India,
somehow,
phew!...where
apna
Akki
adds
a
bit
of
tadka
to
make
this
world
exclusive
Chandni
Chowk
To
China
interview
as
hot
and
spicy
you
could
ever
have.
CC2C
is
a
film
based
on
your
real
life
story.
How
true
were
you
then
to
the
film?
As
true
as
I
am
with
any
character
I
have
to
play,
I
happened
to
love
this
character
immensely.
It
enabled
me
to
be
the
man
I
have
wanted
to
be
on
screen
for
a
long
time
now,
a
funny
action
hero.
What
more
could
I
want,
it's
totally
my
kind
of
film...
However,
the
only
similarity
between
my
life
and
this
film
is
the
fact
that
I
was
born
in
Chandni
Chowk,
like
my
character
is
also
born
there,
and
has
to
cook
just
like
I
had
to
learn
to
cook
when
I
was
working
as
a
chef
in
Bangkok.
I
am
playing
a
halwai
in
the
film.
If
there's
anything
anyone
likes
about
me
at
all,
I
recommend
this
movie
to
the
whole
family,
it
is
me
in
my
element
and
I
would
love
to
share
it
with
you.
This
is
the
first
Kung
Fu
comedy
to
hit
Bollywood
since
its
inception.
Are
you
happy
that
cross
country
talents
are
merging
to
give
us
even
more
entertainment?
Yes
definitely.
I
have
always
believed
that
Bollywood
has
been
evolving.
With
people
being
more
accepting
and
culturally
aware
there
has
been
a
great
demand
for
global
Indian
cinema.
Cultures
have
been
merging.
There
has
been
a
great
influence
of
the
western
culture
in
India
and
of
the
Indian
culture
in
the
west.
People
are
coming
together
so
why
not
cinema?
After
all,
people
are
spending
their
hard
earned
money
to
watch
a
good
film
and
if
we
can
provide
this
through
the
merging
of
cultural
talent
then
why
not?
You
are
considered
to
be
Bollywood's
box
office
mascot.
Both
Welcome
and
Singh
Is
Kinng
grossed
over
a
million
pounds
in
the
UK.
Will
CC2C
complete
the
hat
trick?
Hat
trick
or
bad
trick...
at
the
end
of
the
day
it's
all
about
hard
work.
I
am
grateful
to
all
my
fans
for
providing
me
with
all
the
love
and
support
as
they
always
have
and
I
am
glad
they
have
enjoyed
my
films
in
the
past
year.
Whether
Chandni
Chowk
To
China
will
be
a
success
or
not
is
something
that
I
cannot
predict.
All
I
know
is
that
the
whole
team
and
of
course
I,
have
worked
extremely
hard
and
all
I
can
do
is
leave
the
rest
to
you
all.
How
did
Deepika
adapt
to
such
an
action
packed
film
where
you
will
steal
most
of
the
show?
Oh
I
haven't
stolen
the
show,
trust
me.
Deepika
has
quite
a
few
stunts
that
she
has
done
as
well
in
the
film.
Apparently,
I
have
heard
that
she
calls
herself
the
female
version
of
Akshay
Kumar.
So
I
guess
I'm
the
one
that
should
be
worried
(laughs)
We
know
you
are
a
master
when
it
comes
to
action.
How
difficult
was
this
action
compared
to
all
your
other
action
films
you've
done?
It
was
a
lot
more
painful,
and
a
lot
more
advanced
than
any
martial
arts
I've
performed
in
my
previous
movies.
The
stunt
team
was
incredible.
I'm
so
happy
to
have
relived
my
black
belt
days.
It's
a
movie
I
wish
I
could
do
over
and
over
again,
if
only
it
didn't
hurt
so
much.
I
loved
the
style,
no
one
has
seen
it
in
Bollywood
before.
Let's
hope
it
was
all
worth
it
at
the
end
of
the
day.
Did
you
have
to
learn
Chinese
as
a
language
No
not
at
all.
That
was
the
whole
point.
I'm
a
true
Chandni
Chowk
boy
through
and
through
and
that's
half
my
adventure.
The
fact
is
that
I'm
so
innocent
that
I'm
not
aware
of
what's
going
on
around
me.
Though
I
couldn't
resist
to
learn
a
few
words,
just
for
jokes
on
the
sets
really...
not
to
be
repeated
on
paper
though
sorry
guys!
Nikhil
Advani's
Salaam-E-Ishq
was
a
complete
disaster.
What
made
you
work
with
Nikhil
then?
Was
it
Nikhil's
Kal
Ho
Naa
Ho
or
Rohan
Sippy
productions?
That's
a
bit
harsh,
it
wasn't
a
disaster.
Anyway,
how
can
I
judge
Nikhil
saab
for
his
flops
when
I
have
way
more
flops
to
my
name
then
he'll
ever
have.
Nikhil
is
by
far
one
of
the
best
commercial
directors
I
have
ever
come
across,
to
the
point
where
I
can't
wait
to
work
with
him
again,
as
well
as
Rohan
Sippy.
It's
not
about
reputation
with
me.
If
you
hadn't
noticed
I
work
with
many
new
directors.
It's
not
about
the
name
with
me,
it
never
has
been,
and
it's
about
the
passion.
Show
me
your
passion
for
your
work
and
I'm
anybody's.
And
right
now
no
one
has
shown
me
as
much
passion
as
Nikhil
Advani
saab.
We
know
you
are
a
good
cook.
Please
tell
us
what's
the
yummiest
food
you
can
cook
for
us?
Honestly,
if
you
want
to
live
I
wouldn't
recommend
you
eat
any
of
my
food
(laughs).
Ok,
I'm
not
that
bad,
but
I've
been
pampered
too
much
now
that
I've
forgotten
my
secrets.
Give
me
a
day
in
the
kitchen
and
I'll
rustle
you
up
some
delicious
Punjabi
food.
How
was
it
to
work
with
one
of
Bollywood's
finest
talent
Ranvir
Shorey?
Do
you
know
what,
I
truly
think
he
is
one
of
the
finest
actors
I
have
ever
come
across
and
of
course,
we
got
on
like
a
house
on
fire.
Such
a
funny
guy
and
damn
good
at
what
he
does,
I
love
sharing
the
screen
with
him.
Which
is
your
favourite
track
from
the
film
and
why?
Ouch...
Sorry
too
hard
a
question.
I
love
'Sidhu'
coz
it's
just
me
through
out
in
the
film,
I
love
the
romantic
song
purely
coz
it's
just
beautiful.
Soundtrack
is
addictive,
the
training
song
hits
home
a
lot,
it
just
helped
me
get
through
the
hard
parts
during
the
shooting
and
the
video
song
means
so
much
to
me
for
it's
my
life
story
written
by
an
admirer
and
good
friend.
So
yeah
hard
to
say
really.
Brief
us
about
your
experience
of
shooting
at
the
Great
Wall
of
China.
Ah!
Words
can't
describe
how
amazing
it
was
to
shoot
there,
one
of
the
best
experiences
of
my
life
and
what
an
honour.
Even
Mission
Impossible
didn't
get
permission
to
shoot
there.
One
of
my
best
shots
of
my
whole
career
was
on
that
wall.
It
was
unforgettable.
What
more
can
I
say?
Come
see
me
in
my
element.
You'll
see
so
much
of
the
real
me
on
that
Wall
in
the
movie.
So
far
in
your
career
you've
given
escapist
performances.
Any
idea
when
are
we
going
to
see
you
in
some
serious
roles?
Well
to
be
honest,
I
would
not
completely
agree
with
you.
I
think
I
had
a
very
serious
and
interesting
character
to
play
in
the
film
Sangharsh.
I
have
Nagesh
Kukunoor's
Eight
By
Ten
coming
up
this
year
which
is
a
supernatural
thriller.
So
there's
no
room
there
for
escapist
cinema.
I
will
also
be
playing
a
true
life
character
in
the
film
Komagata
Maru
which
is
an
epic
film
based
on
a
true
story
surrounding
the
voyage
of
the
ship
'Komagata
Maru'
from
India
to
Vancouver
in
the
early
part
of
the
last
century
with
376
passengers
on
board
seeking
a
new
life
in
the
promised
land.
It
is
a
film
of
high
level
government
intrigue,
duplicity,
racism,
spying,
military
engagements,
court
battles,
sedition,
and
assassination.
Is
that
serious
enough
for
you?
Did
you
ever
wish
Jackie
Chan
was
in
CC2C?
That
thought
never
crossed
my
mind
actually.
I
was
so
overwhelmed
with
the
cast
and
crew
we
had
that
those
additions
didn't
enter
my
mind.
Gordon
Liu
was
enough
for
me
in
one
movie.
These
guys
are
legends.
I
was
honoured
by
the
people
involved
in
this
film
that's
all
I
want
to
say
really.
How's
the
touring
going
on
Akki?
Absolutely
marvellous,
I'm
touring
right
now
as
we
speak.
L.A,
New
York,
Toronto
and
London...
Have
to
say,
I
am
over-whelmed
with
the
reaction,
all
we
have
left
to
do
now
is
release
it
and
then
it's
all
up
to
you
guys
I'm
afraid,
you
do
know
I
love
you
all
don't
you
(winks).