Farhan Akhtar to play the lead role in his own production

When independent filmmaker Anand Surapur went to Farhan Akhtar with a role in his bilingual experimental, The Fakir, the director ended up in the lead role as Adi Contractor.

Now his and partner Ritesh Sidhwani’s production house, Excel Productions, will be shooting an original with the filmmaker in the lead.

Even though Farhan is tight-lipped about it, he does confirm that friend Abhishek Kapoor will be directing it.

“Abhishek’s earlier film, Aryan, was pretty good. His directing sensibilities are a lot like Ritesh’s and mine,” says Farhan. “And the fact he is young is an add-on. So we thought of roping him in for a new story I had in mind.”

Farhan isn’t open to discussing the story or cast any further, all he says is the Abhishek sold the idea to him so well, he couldn’t refuse.

“It’ll be a musical and again, like Honeymoon Travels, a melting pot of different characters and storylines strewn into one,” he adds.

“I identified with one character and considered the option.”

The director of two popular films, Dil Chahta Hai and Don, says his previous stint as an actor with The Fakir cured him of his camera-shy apprehensions.

“The Fakir formed a learning curve for me. I was always the geek behind the camera, not willing to come in the front. But it turned out quite exciting. We’ll be premiering it at the Venice Film Festival,” he says.

And though the gent has the sequel to Don waiting to be made, it may be now time to call him director-turned actor after all.

“I don’t know about that. But I do think I’ll be a busy actor shortly. I’m waiting for Rituparno Ghosh’s confirmation as well for his next movie,” Farhan is likely to play a major role alongside Amitabh Bachchan and step-mom Shabana Azmi if he does get the call.

But with a director shifting over to the actors’ stage and letting someone else steer the boat could lead to creative clashes, especially if he is producing the movie too.

“See that is the reason, I can’t talk about it right now,” he says.

Abhishek better be good.

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