Upen Patel

After Akshay Kumar and Dosti it’s the Londoner Upen Patel who’s ready to step into Darshan’s domain. Suneel, who’s currently in a flurry of activity finalising the release of his fresh friendship flick, Dosti, confirms the Patel plans. “Yes, I’d love to work with him and am definitely planning something with him. After Akshay and Bobby, Upen has the look and determination. If he keeps his head on his shoulders, he’ll go a long way.” Suneel’s son, Shiv, will make his debut in 2007. The Upen Patel project will probably materialise in April 2006. “I’ve learnt not to bind myself down to one hero,” Suneel, who has done seven films with Akshay Kumar, says slightly bitterly. “Not even my son. I’ll give him the freedom to work with other banners while I do the same.”

Regarding the differences with Akshay, Suneel is still hopeful about a solution. “I guess all good things come to an end. I’ve subtitled, Dosti, with ‘Friends Forever’ because ever-lasting friendship is becoming increasingly impossible in today’s day and age. I designed seven films for Akshay to rise and shine. Today, he’s on a pedestal. And I feel happy and proud of him. I wish him the very best in life. You know, life has strange twists and turns in store. Who knows, we may sort out our differences. But let me tell you, he’s outstanding in the last 45 minutes of Dosti.”

Dosti is partly based on the director’s close friendship with Sunny Deol and Akshay Kumar. “I was very close to both. Sunny and I were very compatible. But now when I look back I feel it may not have been friendship but a matter of convenience. I wonder if true friendship exists in this world! I’m glad to have worked with Sunny’s brother, Bobby, in two projects. Barsaat was a romantic fantasy ? with Priyanka and Bipasha there, it had to be a fantasy! Dosti is more real. More personalised, more ‘me’?Even the father-son relationship between Mr Bachchan and Akshay in Ek Rishtaa was based on my own experiences. I’d say it has universal appeal. I wouldn’t like to see any of my films as multiplex products. I want my films to work in the single-screen theatres and most of them do.”

Are the two leading ladies, Kareena Kapoor and Lara Dutta, mere props in this film about male bonding? “Not at all! Both the ladies are crucial to the plot. Am I mad to cast two top actresses and then not use them properly? Why just Bebo and Lara, even Juhi Chawla and Lillette Dubey are important in Dosti.”

But Suneel admits Dosti is a guy’s film. “Akshay and Bobby are so comfortable together. The fact that they are friends in real life makes them look comfortable together. After watching him play the buffoon, audiences will get to see a different emotional Akshay in Dosti. As for Bobby, I wish I had met and cast him 10 years earlier. He’s such a pleasure to work with.”