by Subhash K Jha

Akshay Kumar seems to have found Raj Kanwar's Humko Deewana Kar Gaye and his co-star Katrina Kaif a pleasant experience. "What makes Humko Deewana Kar Gaye special is that it's based on a true love-story.

For the first time I play a real-life character. So far all my characters have been fictional. To re-live a romance that actually happened was a strange experience. I enjoyed it tremendously," said Akshay before flying off to Dubai for the shooting of Welcome.

Akshay is impressed by his co-star Katrina. She's tall pretty and very focused on her work. People tell me we make a good on-screen pair. In fact I'm now doing my second film Welcome with Katrina. The producer Feroz Nadiadwala loves to shoot in Dubai. I enjoy it too."

But wouldn't rumours of strife with Salman stress Akshay's rapport with Katrina? He laughs off the rumours. "These are all media myths created for sensation. I've never had any problems with my co-stars. Katrina and I are professional actors. I'm not here to fight and quarrel with anyone."

There's another reason why Akshay is looking forward to shooting Welcome. "This is the first time I'm working with Anees Bazmi. He's very talented. We're both sailing in the same boat. We need to go beyond comedy."

Akshay-Anees Bazmi have together agreed to move out of the comic orbit. They both have a point to prove. Akshay Kumar reeling and rollicking under the influence of laughter and Anees Bazmi whose comedy No Entry was one of the biggest hits of last year...

Anees Bazmi who started shooting for the film on Wednesday is pretty sure of what he wants to do this time.

" Welcome is in no way related to No Entry. It's a romantic musical, and not a comedy. A successful formula doesn't mean you keep going back to it repeatedly. Yes, there's some humour in Welcome. But it isn't a comedy."