Akshay, Amisha farewell charade

The heat bears down on a summer's day in Mumbai. But the air-conditioned environs of the newest hypermarket in distant suburban Malad are being transformed into the reception area of an international airport.

Steps in the mall-to-airport lounge metamorphosis:

Step I: Hoist the 30 foot store banner that hangs from the dome ceiling and secure it to the banister of the staircase on the top floor.

Step II: Suspend an 'Arrival' sign above escalators riding down. Paste an 'Information' sticker on to the reception desk.

Step III: Strategically place Air France and Lufthansa signage. Throw in a Thomas Cook cardboard cutout for effect.

Voila! Transformation complete.

We are on the sets of Mere Jeevan Saathi, Suneel Darshan's Akshay Kumar-Amisha Patel-Karisma Kapoor starrer that's been in the making for some time now. On the floor today is a busload of phirangs, trying to make a few bucks.

"Yah, I'm acting in this film, but I don't know if they will pay me," says Jacques from Reims, France. "They say they will, but I wait so long."

This is Jacques's first time and he is new to the custom of waiting for the camera to roll. Wearing a red 'In Nepal' T-shirt, navy blue bermudas, and rubber slippers, he has his Juhu lodge keys attached to the belt-loops of his shorts. And from the look and smell of it, he hasn't had a bath in a few days.

"This is my third trip to India," says this semi-retired mechanic. "I came in 2000 with over 20 friends and came back in 2002 with my girlfriend. I have been in India this time since January and will go back in June. So I am trying to make some money," he smiles.

Like Jacques, there are many foreigners hanging around the sets in groups while the shot is being readied. The Indian extras sit in air-cooled cabins. Yes, even film extras are clannish. Mostly French today, they sleep on knapsacks on the mall floor in their pyjamas or read after lunch that's been provided by the unit. Strictly vegetarian fare, though.

The stars, Akshay and Amisha, who will shoot today are taking a 'costume-change' break. That extends to a few hours in this part of the world. And leaves Akshay with time enough to squeeze in a meeting with David Dhawan in his van.

Akshay emerges in a white T-shirt and has changed from black to blue jeans. Amisha, in a strappy baby-pink floral dress, wears matching pink shoes with six-inch heels. She has her arm in a cast. "My character was in an accident in the film," she tells us later. With payal adorning her ankles and inch-long false eyelashes, she makes a pretty picture. "I play a traditional character, a girl who has an immense amount of inner strength, who has her middle-class values intact, and who probably is the pillar of strength to Akshay's character in the film," the actress says, looking up from her book, The Da Vinci Code. 

About her future projects, Amisha says, "There is The Rising that I have finished and Elaan. I have started working on Vaada. These four films [including Mere Jeevan Saathi] will release this year.

"All I can say about The Rising is that it is a period film. One of Aamir's [Khan] best, I would say, and people are going to be pleasantly surprised. I play a Bengali girl for the first time — a vulnerable character called Ujjwala."

Cut to director Suneel Darshan, who is trying his best to keep his cool. This ain't easy when you have a set filled with more than 100 people. The foreigners are back from the basement, which serves as a dressing room, almost unrecognisable in their flight crew attire. The Indians are also back from the make-up van. They pose as security personnel, customs officials, or travellers.

Trolleys full of suitcases appear as if from thin air. And we are ready to roll.

The scene to be shot — Akshay bidding adieu to Amisha. The rehearsal begins as the crowd moves into the frame.

Akshay holds Amisha's hand and says, "Apna dhyan rakhna [take care]. I will miss you."

We are ready for the take. "Move on ready, camera moves on action," the director instructs the crowd, his microphoned voice echoing through the store.

"Ready... and... ACTION!"

But the crowd only moves at 'action', rather than at 'ready', much to the frustration of the director, who repeats his instructions. "How can they be so stupid!" he grumbles to his assistants.

Take Two. This time they get it right. But the director is not satisfied and wants another take before canning the shot.

Akshay and Amisha head back to the monitor to review the scene perfunctorily. "The film is essentially a love triangle... but it is a little more complicated than usual," Akshay explains. The actor will soon appear in a martial arts mini-series on the National Geographic television channel.

"Autograph please!" says a kid who has made his way though the makeshift rope barricade, to the delight of his parents. Though security guards come in to prevent others from stepping into the fray, Akshay makes an exception and signs the outstretched piece of paper. After all, even stars must oblige.

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