‘To shoot stuff we still have to get hundreds of people in a room together.’
‘So that would also means audiences will return to theatres if we are able to shoot.’
Photograph: Kind courtesy Akshay Oberoi/Instagram
Actor Akshay Oberoi, last seen in the successful Web series Inside Edge and currently wooing the waves with Illegal is happy to get time at home.
“I was working like a beast before this lockdown,” he tells Subhash K Jha.
“I did seven projects back to back. It’s nice to be at home. I don’t really have any anxiety about being confined at home for so long. I think my years of struggling as an actor has taught me to be incredibly patient,” he adds.
Photograph: Kind courtesy Akshay Oberoi/Instagram
So how is Akshay spending his time?
“With my three-year-old Avyaan,” he says. Then he adds: “Cooking. Cleaning. Gardening!”
Photograph: Kind courtesy Akshay Oberoi/Instagram
Does Akshay see the coronavirus pandemic as the end of the road for the big screen’s supremacy?
“No. Cinema will come back,” he replies. “I mean, to shoot stuff we still have to get hundreds of people in a room together. So that would also means audiences will return to theatres if we are able to shoot.”
Photograph: Kind courtesy Akshay Oberoi/Instagram
Akshay has a slew of projects lined up.
“Flesh is produced by Siddharth Anand who directed War. I play a flesh trade owner. Relished this part! My character is an out and out baddie.”
“Then I have Magic about a druggy who overdoses, goes to rehab and discovers his own drug which he starts to make and sell. It is directed by Nikhil Rao, a known ad film-maker. I also have Inside Edge Season 3.”
“Then there is Kitna a rom-com produced by Ektaa Kapoor, starring Disha Patani.”
Akshay is also doing a feature film with Richa Chadha.
“Madam Chief Minister is about politics. I play a politician. Directed by Subhash Kapoor, it is the Hindi remake of Thirruttu Payale. I play the villain. Vineet (Singh) plays the hero. Urvashi (Rautela) is in between our two characters. It’s a villain and hero cat and mouse chase.”
