/> In Breakaway, the Indo-Canadian film that Akshay Kumar is co-producing with his best-friend Canada-based entrepreneur Ajay Virmani to launch Virmani's son Vinay, the star will for the first time appear as himself.

Akshay will play Akshay in Breakaway and that too because the debutant Vinay Virmani who has co-scripted Breakaway hero-worships Akshay and wrote the role specially for the star.

Says a source close to the project, "Akshay and AJ (that's how Ajay Virmani likes to be known ) go back a long way.In fact AJ has a permanent room in his home for Akshay for whenever the star visits Toronto.

Earlier AJ ghost-produced some of Akshay's films. Now they're openly into joint ventures.Akshay has virtually seen Vinay grow up in front of him. The boy completely idolizes Akshay to the extent of imitating his mannerisms and watching all his films repeatedly."

When Vinay wrote the father-son story in Breakaway he not only borrowed scenes from his own life with his father-figure Akshay, the boy insisted on creating a cameo for his idol. For the first time Akshay Kumar will appear as himself on screen.

Confirming this Anupam Kher who plays Vinay Virmani's father in Breakaway says from Toronto, "Akshay will appear as himself in the film.Breakaway is an emotional father-son story. I accepted the film because I've a very powerful role as a father."

Anupam tried to grow a beard for the part. But finally gave up. "The facial growth was just not sufficient. So Vinay will have to make do with a beardless father."