Nikhil Advani could not sign a single Indian cricketer to play opposite Akshay Kumar

What a shame! In Patiala House, director Nikhil Advani could not sign a single Indian cricketer to play opposite Akshay Kumar. Thanks to the IPL scandal and the resultant ban on all entertainment-based activities, casting Indian cricketers became impossible.

According to a source, Akshay personally spoke to Dhoni and Yuvraj. They too blamed the IPL fiasco for their inability to participate in Akshay’s cricket film.

Though Nikhil Advani, who has returned from London after shooting the cricket sequences, admits they couldn’t get Indian cricketers, he doesn’t regret it, “Ironically we got the biggest names in cricket from the world over: Andrew Symonds, Kieron Pollard, Herschelle Gibbs, Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait, Simon Katich, David Gower, Nasser Hussain and Graham Gooch,”

“We also got the Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal to play cricket with Akshay in Patiala House. We’ve done what the IPL couldn’t. We’ve got cricketers from all over the world playing in one film without scandal or prejudice,” says Advani proudly.

But a modest Akshay says, “How convincing I look is up to the audience to decide. But I practised very hard. And I think I’m a good enough bowler now to play on a national level.”

Advani didn’t have to fudge any shots to make Akshay look like a professional cricketer. For the climax, Akshay bowled for Andrew Symonds. Apparently Symonds, who thought he’d have to play down his abilities, was shocked by Akshay’s bowling skills. Says Advani, “There was no playacting required on the field. After Patiala House Akshay has an alternative career in cricket waiting for him.”