Mumbai, June 18: He has been missing from the scene ever since his revisionist interpretation of ‘Devdas’ in ‘Dev D’ had his fans in a thrall. But Abhay Deol is now returning to Mumbai from New York for his new film ‘Ayesha’ and to float his own production house."I`m coming back in (late) June so there will be at least two weeks to prepare. I`m also starting my own production company and have written the next treatment for my script. So my hands are full," Abhay told reporters on the telephone from New York.
"I don`t feel like a New Yorker. But I`m definitely enjoying my stay," he added.
Abhay has so far played only central characters in Imtiaz Ali`s ‘Socha Na Tha’ and Anurag Kashyap`s ‘Dev D’, but in ‘Ayesha’ Sonam Kapoor is getting all the attention.
Abhay has been signed on to play the male lead, but the complete focus of the pre-production activities has been on Sonam. Doting father that he is, Anil Kapoor is sparing no expenses to make sure Sonam gets the most lavish home production possible.
According to a source close to the project, Sonam has selected everything from the theme - Jane Austen`s ‘Emma’ - to all the clothes, which are being done by Hollywood`s chic designer Mona May.
"The three male protagonists, Abhay, Cyrus Shahukar and newcomer Arunoday Singh, are incidental. In fact, their collective remuneration for the film would be less than what Sonam`s elaborate gowns and dresses would cost," said the source.
So where does that leave Abhay?
"Every film does not have to be from the viewpoint of my character. In fact, I`m excited about this film. I`ll have a less hectic schedule than Sonam and it will be refreshing to see someone else on the set more often than me," said Abhay.
Doesn`t it bother Abhay that ‘Ayesha’ is an out-and-out Sonam vehicle?
"If you say it`s a Sonam vehicle, it`s natural considering the story`s a romantic comedy from the point of view of a girl and I`m playing the male lead. My role is the Mr. Knightley character from the novel `Emma`. All those who have read the book will know exactly what kind of role it is and how well-defined it is," he said.
Abhay`s look, he says, "will be on the peppy side. Rich, well-groomed and urban."
IANS
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.