Washington/New York: Warner Bros’ first Bollywood production Chandni Chowk to China makes the largest-ever opening of any Bollywood film in US and Canada on Jan 16 with its release on more than 125 screens in over 50 markets.
In addition, the Akshay Kumar starrer will also be released in 40 international markets, opening day-and-date with North America in 25 markets, according to Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros Pictures. The other markets will open the film in the weeks ahead.
The first-ever Bollywood kung fu comedy, Chandni Chowk to China follows one man’s passage from simple cook to kung fu fighter, on a thrilling, madcap journey from the by-lanes of Chandni Chowk in Delhi to the grandeur of the Great Wall of China and beyond.
At a press conference in New York on Thursday to mark the premiere of the film in the US, Akshay Kumar described Chandni Chowk… as a “pure Bollywood story”.
“If you are fans of Manmohan Desai, this is that kind of a film,” he said. “I am anxiously waiting to go back to India and show the film to my son. My grandmother is also waiting to see the film. So it’s a film for all ages.”
Akshay was joined at the press conference by his 22-year old co-star Deepika Padukone and director Nikhil Advani.
Padukone plays a double role in the film – Sakhi, an Indian woman, and Meow Meow, a Chinese woman, who is also a martial arts expert.
Padukone spent six months training in martial arts. “It was a tough experience, but when Nikhil described the character to me I knew I had to learn martial arts,” she said.
Akshay was all praise for the young co star. “If you watch how she kicks in the film, it’s hard to believe that she learnt martial arts just a few months ago,” he said.
“I’m really lucky to have worked with Akshay,” Padukone said. “I grew up watching his films.”
Director Nikhil Advani of “Kal Ho Na Ho” fame said “Chandni Chowk to China” will also open in nearly 80 theatres in Britain – another record for a Bollywood film.
“We got a huge level of support from Warner Bros,” Advani said. “They made it possible for us to shoot at the Great Wall of China, which is a first for a Bollywood film. And they were so professional to work with.”
The film also features stunts choreographed by veteran martial arts stunt coordinator Huen Chiu-Ku, whose credits include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Kill Bill: Vols 1 and 2 and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
After the press conference at Manhattan’s Essex Hotel, Akshay Kumar stepped out on Central Park South, followed by a huge entourage of photographers and television camera crew.
He stood by a yellow taxicab parked outside the hotel waving and posing for pictures. Then suddenly the actor stepped up, and the next thing he was standing on top of the cab, smiling, with his fist in the air, reminiscent of his Singh is Kinng character.

Shobana stars in Maya Ravan, a musical based on the Indian epic Ramayan
South Indian star Shobana is one of India’s most renowned classical dancers. She has performed before royals such as the king and queen of Malaysia and former US president Bill Clinton. Shobana is also one of the few actresses with a catalogue of more than 150 movies in five Indian languages to her name.
But she is willing to place all of that on the back burner to answer my questions. We are to discuss her musical Maya Ravan (Mystical Ravan, based on the Indian epic Ramayan) to be staged in Dubai this weekend.
Calling it a cross between a Broadway musical and Bollywood, Shobana feels that the piece — which draws heavily on Indian mythology about the struggle of good versus evil — has widespread appeal.
“Maya Ravan is a visual spectacle. It’s almost like a Bollywood film with English dialogue. You need not be an expert in Bharathnatyam [Indian classical dance] or be an Indian who is familiar with the Ramayan to enjoy this musical extravaganza.
“Our movements and our expressions demystify the plot adequately,” says Shobana.
And what got her excited about the project was the opportunity to play the role of the bad guy. For this multi-award-winning actress, playing the role of King Rama — the good guy — was not nearly as appealing as playing the monstrous 10-headed demon King Ravan.
“Firstly, I am way too tall to be Rama [the benevolent King in the mythological text] and I think as a creative artist it’s a lot more challenging to play the role of the demon. Ravan has many interesting shades of grey and it is difficult to pin him down,” says Shobana, who is 1.68 meters tall.
Shobana says the character of Ravan is a creative minefield.
“I think it requires immense talent to play a character who has the audacity to kidnap the king’s wife, Sita, right from under his nose. I mean, what was he thinking? In fact, I think playing a murqa [a fool] is not easy either.”
Those who have been following the actress’ career will know that Shobana is best known for nailing the role of a bloodthirsty schizophrenic in the Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu. Apart from being a blockbuster that spawned many remakes in several Indian languages, Shobana also walked away with the Best Actress National Award, one of the highest distinctions for an Indian actor.
Voice talents
The musical Maya Ravan also features the voices of acclaimed actors such as Tabu, Naseerudin Shah, Mohanlal, Jackie Shroff, Suhasini Maniratnam and Revathy, who add to its celeb quotient.
“Many wonder how I managed to get all of them on board. But it was more a case of them seeing the script and volunteering to lend their voices. In fact, I have not even met some of them.
“But it all just worked out fine. I think most of them found the concept of Maya Ravan innovative,” says Shobana.
However, with more than 36 costume changes, the musical does not attempt to tweak the ancient epic drastically just for the sake of being innovative.
“I believe in being creative and not altering or making changes in the name of modernising a tale.”
“But through this ballet, we have tried to fill some gaps and throw light on the unspoken moments.”