Priyadarshan Calls Akshaye Khanna 'Difficult To Work With' But... - EXCLUSIVE

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actors are too talented and filmmakers go to any lengths to work with them, even if they are 'difficult'. Priyadarshan has opened up about working with Akshaye Khanna, calling him “difficult” but also one of the most talented actors he has collaborated with. The revelation comes at a time when Akshaye is receiving widespread praise for his powerful portrayal of Rehman Dakait in Dhurandhar. His amazing portrayal of a gang leader in the Aditya Dhar film has brought him a lot of fame. In an exclusive chat with Zoom, Priyadarshan shared insights into his working dynamic with actors and how understanding personalities is key to bringing out their best. He also spoke a bit about Salman Khan.

How did Priyadarshan deal with Salman Khan?

Speaking candidly, Priyadarshan explained that the first step to working with actors is acceptance. He said that one should not try to change people but rather understand them for who they are. According to him, forcing actors to behave a certain way can often backfire. He elaborated that being “diplomatically arrogant” is essential in filmmaking, at least that is what he thinks. He added, "The first thing you have to do I you have to accept these people as what they are."Using an example, he mentioned that if you instruct someone like Salman Khan too directly, they might end up doing the opposite. Hence, building a personal connection and mutual respect becomes crucial. The veteran director emphasised that actors need to like and trust the filmmaker and said, "I think they have to like you as a person." He also credited his background in psychology for helping him deal with complex personalities throughout his career. This approach, he said, has enabled him to collaborate with a many talented artists.

Akshaye Khanna is 'difficult to work with'?

Talking specifically about Akshaye Khanna, Priyadarshan described him as a “difficult person” but clarified that he never faced any real issues while working together. The duo has collaborated on multiple films, including Hungama, Hulchul, Doli Saja Ke Rakhna, Mere Baap Pehle Aap, and Aakrosh. The Bhooth Bangla director said, "Akshaye (Khanna) is another difficult person. I have done seven eight films. No difficulty."He pointed out how the actor can effortlessly switch between roles. The director gave examples of how Akshaye has done opposite roles - from intense characters like his recent outing in Dhurandhar to 'Jeetu from Videocon', in Hungama as he himself presented him in a comic role.The filmmaker also recalled advice from Amitabh Bachchan. He stated, "Amit Ji (Amitabh Bachchan) once told actors are beggars, they can't choose." Priyadarshan interpreted this as a responsibility to provide actors with the best material and extract the finest performances from them and concluded by saying, "So you give them the best and exploit them with their talent. That's the way I always worked with that."Watch the full interview here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-yoxUk-P7I

On the work front, Akshaye Khanna was last seen in Dhurandhar. He will be seen in Netflix's Ikka along with Sunny Deol. Priyadarshan is awaiting the release of Bhooth Bangla, starring Akshay Kumar. He is also directing Haiwaan.