Akshay Kumar Interview – Part I – ”Jolly LLB 2 is a rare sequel that actually makes you think that franchises in India can work”

Jolly LLB 2 has released and is expectedly fetched good reviews from all quarters. The film is being hailed for its strong entertainment quotient that is blending realism factor well with mainstream. Meanwhile, the star of the show, Akshay Kumar, has come up with a very good act all over, something which is placing him in the running yet again for the top honors when the awards (with credibility) are announced. Though that is still far away considering the fact that 2017 has just begun, we get into a conversation with the man himself. Here is presenting Part I of the exclusive conversation with Akshay Kumar.

Considering the fact that the film has Jolly LLB taking nothing less than the State this time around, is audience up for the kind of court case that has never been seen before in a Hindi film ever?

Jolly is definitely taking an honest and bold stand, but that’s it as you see; it’s the reality behind this film that makes it so enthralling. It’s not about trying to make a never seen before courtroom drama, everyone knows they have been done. This is an untouched, real life drama, with an awe inspiring piece of UP court room masterpiece. A government, a judge, a lawyer pushing the boundaries of corruption. The realness is what grips you. This isn’t a filmyfied movie, it’s the essence of what happens daily behind closed doors, on the streets, in front of our very eyes, that intrigues you with what can be done with the strength to change the system.

The age old adage of ‘all is fair in love and war’ is being challenged in a big way by your character. To counter that in a challenging manner is a big statement to make.

Well, it’s what I believe in real life and in my film. Things are far from fair, two wrongs will never make a right, and unjust behavior in my eyes is as bad as murder. If you are going to stand for what’s right, I advise all to be bullet proof, because even the smartest dressed men will drag you down to lift themselves. Hence they say, keep your friends close but your enemies closer. As for Jolly, even the right side of the law can be just as criminal as the wrong side; it’s knowing how to handle it that gets you where you want in life.

Last year, you went to Kuwait [Airlift], London [Housefull 3] and Mumbai [Rustom]. This time around, you have gone entirely rustic with a Lucknow set up in Jolly LLB 2. Must be a different experience altogether?

I always love going back to my roots!! As much as I love to take my films and family all over the World, Lucknow was an experience with wonderful rowdy crowds that shared a lot of love for our film. There was tremendous support to shoot where needed, but best of all was the food’. I was pampered like you couldn’t believe up there. The only thing that made me not want to come home was the rich desi khana. Luckily for me, I wasn’t required to be a fit/ripped UP lawyer, so I ate & ate & ate to my jolly content (smiles)

As a matter of fact, Jolly LLB 2 is the first sequel of 2017 and is being looked at as one film that would emerge as a rare sequel in the recent times to actually do well?

Without jinxing me, I can only hope that people see this as a rare sequel that actually does make you think that franchises in India can work. Everyone knows it’s always hard to compare, let alone compete with an original. But then every now and then a beauty pops up and the audience is taken for the ride they bargained for. Let’s hope that as always, expectations don’t get the better of people and they give my film, my version a chance. That’s all I ask for.

Stay tuned for Part II of the interview.