Akshay Kumar on Bollywood remakes of South films and vice-versa: If something works, everyone wants a piece of the pie

Akshay Kumar, who recently appeared in the film Bachchhan Paandey, has been a part of a number of Bollywood films that have been remakes of hit South Indian movies. Some of them include the likes of Hera Pheri (remake of Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking), Rowdy Rathore (remade from Telugu hit Vikramarkudu), Bhool Bhulaiyaa (remake of another Malayalam movie titled Manichitrathazhu) and last year's release Laxmii which was a remake of Tamil blockbuster titled Kanchana. 

As if these and more in the filmography of Akshay weren't enough, the actor's upcoming film Cinderella, which recently began rolling in UK, is also the remake of a Tamil crime thriller titled Ratsasan. Surely, Akshay has worked in a number of Bollywood films that have been remade from hit South Indian films. 

In his recent interaction with the Hindustan Times, Akshay was quizzed about the trend of South films being remade in Bollywood and him having worked in a lot of them, if it ever raises the question of lack in original scripts in Hindi films. The actor responded by saying that it's not completely true as he does a lot of films based on original scripts. He went on to give examples of his upcoming films like Prithviraj, Ram Setu, Raksha Bandhan and OMG 2 which are all based on original scripts. 

However, Akshay added that there are some remakes too but those are only of the films that he's personally watched and enjoyed and was excited to bring to the audience of Bollywood films. The reason being, he felt that the market for those feels hadn't been tapped. 

When prodded further about there likely being a crossover happening with a few South Indian filmmakers also taking cues from hit Bollywood films, the actor said that it's not a one-way deal as a lot of South Indian films too borrow scripts from our industry. He further gave examples of his own films like Special 26 and OMG - Oh My God! that have been remade in South. "Likewise, there are films featuring other Bollywood actors that have been remade as well. If something has worked, and is successful, everyone wants to have a piece of the pie. It’s natural. So it works both ways," he was quoted as saying by the publication. 

Meanwhile, on the work front, Akshay Kumar was last seen in Bachchhan Paandey with Kriti Sanon, Jacqueline Fernandez and Arshad Warsi. The actor is now gearing up for the release of Prithviraj, which also stars Manushi Chhillar who will be seen making her Bollywood debut with the film.