Kar Gaye' rocks UK

New Delhi, Apr 21: Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar's surely is fast emerging as a strong contender to Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan for the "overseas heartthrobs" tag.

After the strong showing in the overseas circuit of 'Garam Masala', Diwane Huye Paagal' and 'Dosti', all of which starred Akshay Kumar, the Bollywood actor's "intense lover" act in his latest film 'Humko Diwana Kar Gaye' has also stormed the box office in the United Kingdom, thus underlining the versatile actor's emergence as the ''new star on the overseas circuit''.

The film, which released all over the world on April 14, opened to record theatre collections. In fact, the opening day collections of the film, which stars actress Katrina Kaif in the female lead and the sultry Bipasha Basu in a supporting role, in the United Kingdom were a staggering 50,000 UK Pounds (Rs 35 Lakh) from just 38 cinema screens.

Besides the stupendous opening day collections, the film also earned 16,000 UK Pounds (Rs 11 lakh) from paid preview shows held a day prior to its theatrical release.

The total collections earned by 'Humko Diwana Kar gaye' from its previews and theatre earnings during the 4-day Easter weekend were 219,981 UK Pounds (Rs 1.7 crore) from 38 cinema screens, placing it at the tenth position in the UK top Ten, alongside Hollywood films like 'Ice Age: The Meltdown', 'Scary Movie 4', 'Inside Man' and 'The Shaggy Dog'.

What is more, the film had the third highest per-screen average of 4,603 UK Pounds among the films figuring in the UK Top ten, behind only 'Ice Age: The Meltdown' and 'Scary Movie 4'. In terms of its earnings during the opening weekend, the film ranks above Hollywood films like 'Hostel', 'The Pink Panther', 'Yours, Mine and Ours', The Squid And The Whale' and 'The Dark Momentum'. Trade sources say the opening taken by 'Humko Deewana Kar Gaye' is the highest ever for a solo Akshay Kumar-starrer in the UK. In fact, the opening of the film was even bigger than that of 'Andaz', Akshay's previous film with director Raj Kanwar.

Recent years have seen Akshay Kumar emerge as the new star on the overseas circuit. Films starring the actor like 'Garam Masala', 'Deewane Huye Paagal' and, more recently, 'Dosti' have proved to be hits in the United Kingdom.

Of the above, the success of 'Dosti' is specially remarkable considering that the film opened to a lukewarm response from Indian audiences. Which only goes to prove what a big draw Akshay is emerging at the box office.

X X X Shahrukh meets former Malaysian PM on sets of Farhan Akhtar's 'Don' New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) The cast and crew of Farhan Akhtar's under-production sequel of the 70s hit 'Don' recently had a surprise visitor.

Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad last week paid a surprise visit to the sets of 'Don- The Chase Begins again' at the exclusive Four Seasons Resort in Langkawi in Malaysia.

For the actors of the film, which stars superstar Shahrukh Khan, former Miss World Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor, it was indeed a matter of pride to have a former head of state of the country personally visit the sets of their film.

Shah Rukh Khan, who essays the role done by Superstar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1978 movie, took a break from shooting of the film to entertain Dr Mahathir, trade sources said. The sources said that during the brief meeting, both Shahrukh and Dr Mahatir expressed a mutual admiration for each other. During his visit, the former malaysian PM also had interactions with the the film's producer Ritesh Sidhwani and its lead actress Priyanka Chopra.

The unit of 'Don' have been shooting round the clock for the film in Malaysia for the last one month.

During the 70-day shooting schedule of the film in Malaysia, the unit will travel to 42 locations, including the Penchala Link, Kampung Baru and the Petronas Twin Towers.

Among the scenes to be shot during the schedule will be the the classic number 'Khai Ke Paan Banaras Wala', filmed on Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman in the original. In the sequel, the song, to be shot on May 13, will feature Shahrukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra and will be choreographed by Saroj Khan.

Also scheduled to be filmed is the song 'Yeh Mera Dil', being choreographed by Farah Khan for Farhan's version. The song, which was filmed on Amitabh Bachchan and Helen in the original, features SRK with Kareena Kapoor in the sequel.

According to Ritesh Sidhwani, the producer of the film, the sequel of 'Don' will have Shahrukh playing a techno-savvy gentleman - 'James Bondesque' character with knowledge of all modern accessories and gadgets. Even Priyanka is expected to indulge in some daredevil stunts and display her martial arts skills for the movie all by herself.

UNI