Here’s Why Akshay Kumar Is Not Playing Verghese Kurien

Akshay Kumar in Jolly LLB 2.

(Image Courtesy: Twitter)

It seems Akshay Kumar has had enough of biopics for the moment. After R Balki’s PadMan and Reema Kagti’s Gold, in both of which he plays ennobled real-life characters, Akshay will take a break from real-life characters.

He has just turned down a film based on the life of Verghese Kurien, the man who initiated the largest dairy development organisation in the world.

A source in the know informs,

“The film’s producer Ekta Kapoor and director Shree Narayan Singh assumed Akshay would say yes to this project because he has always shared a cordial relation with Ekta, has worked well with Shree Narayan in <i>‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’</i> and likes the idea of playing noble inspiring real-life characters. In fact Akshay recently said no to a very big biopic based on the life of a famous music baron after saying yes and after accepting a huge signing amount for the film. But Akshay saw many grey areas in the music baron’s life. So he opted out. He would have loved to play Verghese Kurien who is a true hero of our times. “

So why did Akshay say no to this great character’s biopic?

“Because Shyam Benegal has already made a great film Manthan on Kurien’s milk revolution. Akshay feels there is nothing more he can add to the biopic,” says the source.

Wise decision. We now hear Ekta and Shree Narayan’s second choice is Ajay Devgn.