Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn force Priyadarshan into making sequels to his hit comedies

To make or not to make, that's no longer the question. The prolific Priyadarshan, who had vowed last year not to make any more slapstick comedies -- his logic being, "If everyone else is making them, why should I?" -- is being forced to go down that route once again.

Now Priyan's two favourite actors, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar, want to know why they should team up with him for serious films when comedies, Priyan's forte, are rocking the box office.

Sequels to Priyan's successful comedies Garam Masala (Akshay Kumar-John Abraham), Bhool Bhulaiya (Akshay Kumar-Vidya Balan) and Malaamal Weekly (Om Puri, Riteish Deshmukh) are now being planned in full-speed. In fact, Malaamal Weekly 2 had been shelved, but has now been revived.

Favouring Priyan's return to farce is Devgn, who is smarting under the blow that was Aakrosh. Directed by Priyadarshan, it bombed miserably, while Golmaal 3, directed by Rohit Shetty, is a resounding success.

"Yes, I've been persuaded to return to comedy. What do I do with 3 and 4 star ratings for Aakrosh when audiences just want to have a good laugh? After Golmaal 3, I'm now in the process of finalising Garam Masala 2, Bhool Bhulaiya 2 and Malaamal Weekly 2."

It's sad that the director of such sensitive films as Anil Kapoor-starrer Viraasat and Tamil film Kanchivaram is being forced into farce.