Mumbai, August 04: Arbaaz Khan’s birthday gift to himself is the launch of his banner today. His first film will be the hard-hitting commercial Dabangg directed by Abhinav Kashyap with elder brother Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, himself and a host of established actors like Vinod Khanna and Anupam Kher.
An excited Arbaaz says, “Turning producer was a natural process. My first aim was to establish myself as an actor. Now that I have done that, I felt the need to take things to the next level.’’ He explains that every actor has a dormant producer in him; and every producer has a dormant director in him. “That is why most Bollywood actors are setting up their production houses. And, once they’ve established their banner, they automatically turn towards direction.’’
So charged is he by the creative process that Arbaaz has been actively participating in every aspect of his film. Four songs have been recorded; the story-board is in place and though principal photography will start only in October 2009, the actor has already completed his location scouting in Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
Needless to say, elder brother Salman who is reportedly playing a corrupt cop in Dabangg is a pillar of support to Arbaaz. “I don’t wish to reveal too much of the script at this stage,’’ says the actor, “All I can say is that the film will have A-grade production values and it will be in the mainstream format with pithy dialogue and some amazing action. Also, the fact that we are introducing Shatrughan Sinha’s daughter Sonakshi is an ace up our sleeve.’’
Will wife Malaika find a role? “There is no role for Malaika at the moment,’’ he says candidly. However he doesn’t rule out the possibility of including Malaika in a song. “She may do a dance number in our film, if the director feels it fits in aptly and if Malaika wishes to do it. Ideally, I’d like her to be part of my first production.’’
Well, one more Khan has just opened his account as producer. Let’s hope he manages to scale the exalted heights of his predecessors.
—-Agencies