No, Akshay Kumar Isn't Playing PM Narendra Modi

Mumbai: Akshay Kumar won't be playing Prime Minister Narendra Modi on screen, a spokesperson for the actor confirmed to NDTV.com after several media outlets ran headlines today on the reported casting. The 49-year-old actor's rep has dismissed the reports, based on a quote given to DNA by a source. DNA reported that Akshay Kumar was the top choice among political circles to play PM Modi, over senior actors like Paresh Rawal and Anupam Kher. Akshay's meeting with PM Modi in New Delhi last month, in which they discussed his new film Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, was also cited as possible evidence. Now, his team says this is not true.

A frisson of excitement rippled through the media after a source told DNA, "The kind of reach and impact that Akshay Kumar's presence will have in a story on Modi would be far-reaching and productive." Actor and BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha endorsed the casting of Akshay to DNA, as did Chief Censor Pahlaj Nihalani.

No details of a possible film on Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been released.

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A month ago, Akshay Kumar met PM Modi in the capital and briefed him about Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, the theme of which - sanitation - meshes with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan spearheaded by Mr Modi's government.
 

Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Akshay Kumar's second lead role this year after Jolly LLB 2, co-stars Bhumi Pednekar and releases on August 11. Akshay, this year's National Awardee for Best Actor, is currently filming Padman, based on the inventor of a cheaper sanitary napkin.
 

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