For casting Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal in his film Patiala House

Director Nikhil Advani has been getting from certain powerful quarters of Maharashtra regarding the presence of Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal in his film Patiala House.

But Advani is determined not to edit out Akmal. Says the director, "Patiala House has cricketers from all over the world...Australia, South Africa and West Indies. Why should Pakistan be left out? I'm editing all the cricket portions in my film. And Akmal remains, as far as I'm concerned. That's the truth as of now. But who knows about tomorrow?"

He admits, however, that if there's excessive pressure on him to edit out Akmal he will do so. "I can't endanger my film for personal reasons. Too much is at stake."

Advani's film also stars Akshay Kumar as a second-generation Sikh in the UK, and is heading into another controversy on that matter. There is pressure on Advani to remove shots showing Akshay in a Sikh turban.

Some Sikh organisations who saw a picture of a clean-shaven Akshay in a turban were up in arms.

Protests Advani, "But Akshay does not play a Sardarji in Patiala House! He plays a Mona Sardar (a clean-shaven Sikh). In fact we have a harrowing sequence in Patiala House where Akshay's characters hair and beard are shaved off. We were clear that he would remain clean-shaven."

Apparently, after the troubles that Akshay went through to get the length of his hair and beard right in Singh Is Kinn, he was clear about playing a Mona Sardar in Patiala House.

Says a source close to Akshay, "The only time he will play a turbaned Sardarji is when he does the sequel to Singh Is Kinng. Otherwise for all practical purposes, Akshay has decided to remain clean in the eyes of the Sikh community."

Just as well, we think.