asks CM

Grand plans to host the premiere of Nikhil Advani's upcoming film, Patiala House in Mumbai and London later this week have been abruptly called off in favour of a more modest venue.

Punjab's chief minister Parkash Singh Badal wants the film starring Akshay Kumar to premiere in, where else, Patiala. Badal is said to have met Kumar at a function in Punjab last week, and the two ended up discussing the film.

Says a source, "Parkash Singh Badal wondered why the premiere of Patiala House was not being held in Patiala. Isn't it the most logical thing to do, Badal asked. Kumar and Advani were stumped at the question. Within minutes, the plan was changed."

Advani confirms the news. "Yes, we are shifting the premiere venue on the CM's request. It will now be held at the SRS Cinema on February 10. Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma and I will be flying down to Patiala, " he said.

Incidentally, while Kumar and Rishi Kapoor are playing Sikhs in Patiala House and have played sardar characters before, the film's heroine Anushka Sharma is not a Punjabi but is often mistaken for one.

"I don't know if the Punjab CM thinks Anushka is a Punjabi. But at the moment, we all feel like Punjabis, including me, a true blue Sindhi!" says Advani.