It's not always concerning the family, and Mani Ratnam is learning this the hard way. The South filmmaker has apparently been eager to launch his young cousin-in-law Akshara Haasan in a film, but to no avail.
The 21-year-old daughter of South superstar Kamal Haasan and Sarika has politely turned down Mani's offer and has decided to be informed filmmaking instead.
Says Kamal, "I DO NOT know why Akshara turned down the give you. can't question a 21- year-old. It's her decision.
I've never imposed my will on either of my two daughters. They're free to do what they need to with their lives. Akshara, I suspect, will follow my route, ranging from behind the camera after which making her option to front of the camera."
Mani is married to Kamal's older brother Charu Haasan's daughter Suhasini. This refusal would have surely come as a blow to the maverick, given his last film Raavan starring Aishwariya and Abhishek Bachchan flopped.
The film he had in mind for Akshara's launch, in keeping with sources, was not a standard love story for the youth market. To be fair, Akshara up to now been learning the ropes of filmmaking and not using a apparent interest in facing the camera like her older sibling Shruti, who was doing Tamil and Hindi films for many years now.
Says a source, "Akshara seems content behind the camera despite getting quite a few plum acting offers, but Mani is adamant. He's very keen to launch Akshara as a number one lady, and has made the offer many times."
For now, of course, Mani must cool his heels till the headstrong girl gives in to his demand. He'll have a tricky time convincing her though, given she doesn't need to work together with her father's production house either.
"When Akshara decided she desired to learn filmmaking, we decided she wouldn't assist any of our home productions. There would've been an excessive amount of pampering at the sets. She assisted Rahul Dholakia instead. Now she's free to transport ahead in whatever direction she wants," says Kamal.
Courtesy: Mid-Day.com
