BLUE IS COMING TO THE UAE FIRST

Bollywood mega-starrer will have its world premiere at the third Middle East International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi

Expect the best of world cinema at the third Middle East International Film Festival to be held from October 8 to 17 in Abu Dhabi. And Bollywood will be represented by none other than Blue, the Akshay Kumar-Sanjay Dutt-Lara Dutta-Katrina Kaif movie that features Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue in a special song appearance. The promos of the movie are already burning up our TV screens, so we can’t wait to see the film.

All of MEIFF ‘s gala screenings will be held in the Auditorium of the Emirates Palace Hotel , with some of them receiving second screenings at Cinestar Cinemas at Marina Mall.

AKKI'S FAMILY ALBUM

Akshay Kumar and Twinkle are on the cover of the latest issue of L'Officiel India. Shooting together after nine years and the first time as a couple, the entire experience was one that neither of them would ever forget.

"This shoot will be kept in our family album for sure and that's why it's even more special for both of us," says Akshay who confesses that this was possibly one of the most enjoyable shoots he has done.

Dressed in Dior's Fall-Winter '09 collection during the shoot in London, the couple laughed, smiled and allowed a glimpse into their private world.

AKSHAY GETS HIS SON AARAV AN EXPENSIVE PC FOR HIS B'DAY

On his birthday (September 9), Akshay Kumar received numerous gifts. But the best present he received was a huge cut-out of Superman with his face place over on it by his son Aarav.

For the four-year-old, dad is Superman and he had planned his gift for his papa. In fact he had designed it on his computer with the help of his mom Twinkle. So for his son's birthday (September 15), AK got his beta a computer of his own.

Says a source close to the actor, "Aarav has been learning how to use the computer in his school for the last few months so this time Akshay decided to gift him a computer with all kinds of drawing and designing programs. He loves playing games on them.

That wasn't the only computer gift he got. Twinkle's mother Dimple also gifted Aarav an Apple notebook, which he can carry with him everywhere he travels."

Kumar Jr is excited with his two computers and has been proudly showing them off to all his friends.

In the Kumar family, birthdays are special. No matter where Akshay is shooting they all make sure they are together on each other's birthdays. September is a special month because it is Akshay (September 9), Aarav (September 15) and the actor's niece Simar's birthday too.

AKSHAY AND SANJAY KA DOSTANA

The dudes will be seen in Blue where they play pals but they weren’t on talking terms during the making of the film, thanks to their 15-year old antagonism. It’s not only actresses that fight, actors have ego issues too.

Their dushmani began when they were shooting for Raj Sippy’s Amaanat which released in 1994. According to legends, Raj Sippy wanted to shoot a song video with Akshay Kumar but Sanjay Dutt wanted to be part of the video and he persuaded Sippy to shoot the video only with him. Both Sanjay and Akshay were big stars at the time and Akshay was and is the better dancer among the two. He didn’t take very gently to his being bumped off the video and thus began a 15 year long cold war between him and Sanjay.

A source tells us, “During the making of Blue, both of them gave director Anthony D’souza a hard time because of their ego clashes. They wanted to know who's role was meatier. In fact, Sanjay even stopped shooting for Blue for a while. Only after a lot of praise and demanding from the production house and some special ads in his favour, did he return. This was around the time of Kidnap’s release. Things were cool for a while but then escalated when Kylie Minogue came to India. Akshay Kumar and wife Twinkle played her personal hosts. Sanjay Dutt also wanted to throw a party for her but his political schedule and the short duration of her visit didn’t allow that to happen. Poor Lara had to yo-yo between the two people as she is friends with both Kumar and Dutt.”

Finally peace prevailed on the last day of the shoot in Mumbai. Our source adds, “Akshay and Sanjay are both adults and they decided to get over what had happened 15 years ago. Both decided to be cordial and warm towards each other and this surprised everyone on set but they were only happy as everybody could finally relax and bond together. Blue is an important film for both of them (along with the rest of the cast) as neither Akshay nor Sanjay has had a hit this year. If it does well and people like their rapport, then they will team up for another project. Both stars have a huge fan base and any movie could cash in on it.”

Sanjay’s spokesperson denied that the duo had any problems in the first place and maintained that they have always been friends.

AKSHAY KUMAR SPRINTS IN THE STREETS OF LONDON

Akshay Kumar took everybody by shock when he jumped out of his car and sprinted through London when he found himself stuck in a traffic jam.

The actor was there for the shooting for Sajid Nadiadwala's House Full. One day, after pack-up from East London, the crew and Akki - with his trainer Jennifer - were travelling back to his apartment in Central London. They were about eight miles away and stuck in traffic, when she challenged him to beat traffic and reach before the unit; Akshay did just that.

Akshay admits, "Yes, Jennifer challenged me to run the rest of the way home and see if we could beat the car! Then my driver laid a bet saying that they would reach the hotel before them, so the bet was on.

She and I started running at 10.30 at night and passed all the other cars with my co-stars (Riteish Deshmukh, Arjun Rampal and Lara Dutta), the producer (Sajid Nadiadwala) and director (Sajid Khan) sitting in them."

Since there are several Hindi movie buffs in London - Indians, Arabs and Asians - and he was soon recognised and had people running after him. He laughs, "Guys were running after me trying to figure out if it was really me.

I heard them shout out aloud, 'Is he Akshay Kumar?' By the time I reached my hotel it was almost like half an Indian army was running behind me. I was excited, thrilled and exhausted too by the time I reached the hotel!"

Akshay cycled many times while in London. "I bought a couple of mountain bikes and cycled back from the set to my hotel through the middle of London. While some people stopped to take pictures. I would cycle through Hyde Park everyday.

It was great fun! I felt great, with my lungs burning and legs pumping but I'm not alone - there are hundreds of people trying to become fit. If you want to be fit, I recommend buying a bicycle, riding around, forgetting about your stresses and just breathing in the air that surrounds you."