Al Pacino all praise for Akshay Kumar’s role in OUATIMD

If the promos of Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara (OUATIMD) have heightened the anticipation for the film, here is the ultimate endorsement. Akshay Kumar, who essays the finest grey character of his career in the film playing the menacing Shoaib, has found an admirer of epic proportions. The romantic drama directed by Milan Luthria, that is to hit the silver screen on 15 August, has caught the attention of Al Pacino who was blown away by the film’s theatrical trailer and by Kumar’s towering presence in the flick. During an informal discussion between Pacino and his business associate, Barry Navidi, the latter mentioned Once Upon A Time….., being touted as Bollywood’s answer to edge-of-the-seat bad boy entertainers. Impressed with the trailer, Pacino said, “My friend Barry Navidi showed me a promo of an Indian film with Akshay Kumar. It brought some fond memories back from my Godfather days.” Remarked Akshay, “A touch of appreciation is always held dearly in an actor’s arms, even if it’s from the simplest of people like our beloved spot boys. But to have your work spoken of so kindly by the world’s most admired gangster Al Pacino himself – I had goose-bumps thinking about him watching the promo! I was so humbled, not only as an actor but as a fan of his legendary work. I pray he enjoys the final piece as much as he enjoyed the promo.” Meanwhile performing for a mega Eid show (called Jashan-e-Eid) for Colors, the Oh My God actor-producer got emotional and ended up joining the famous Pakistani Sufi duo Sabri Brothers in singing the famous qawwali Chadhta Suraj.