by Subhash K Jha

Akshay does have a sense of humour. And you don't need to watch him in Garam Masala to know. At the Screen awards he went on stage to receive the award for best editor...a dig at all those co-stars who have accused Akshay of tampering with their roles.

But Akshay isn't buying the dig. "It wasn't meant to be a dig at anyone except on myself. The joke was on me, and everyone finally caught on. It's very important to finally see the lighter side of this profession. Stardom, success, celebrity status... these are all illusions. We shouldn't get carried away by them."

He has had enough of laughs for now. "It's time to get serious," Akshay mock-admits. Ironically he's shooting for another comedy Neeraj Vora's Phir Hera Pheri,a sequel to Priyadarshan's Hera Pheri. "I've worked with Neeraj Vora before. I know what he's capable of. I've confidence in all humanbeings. All you need to do is touch the right nerves."

Akshay's last comic romp Deewane Huey Pagal was a bit of a damper. "I'd have preferred to space out the comedies. I feel Deewane... came much too soon after Garam Masala. It was too much of the comic mood.

"But Raj Kanwar's Humko Deewana Kar Gaye which releases in April moves away from comedy. It is a cool romantic film. I like working with Raj Kanwar. I think audiences will like what we've done this time after Andaz."

If there's anything that Akshay Kumar likes doing more than acting it's playing daddy to his son. On Republic day the actor took the entire day off to be with his son Aarav . In the evening Aarav and a large group of his little neighbours went to see The Chronicles Of Narnia with the star-dad. It was hard to make out who was having more fun : Aarav and his little friends, or Akshay.

"Actually I'm a bigger child than my own son. And I've more fun going out with him and his friends than they do," says the star whose latest film Family hasn't done as well as his films 2005.

"But I've no regrets. I did Family for Keshu Ramsay who's an old and trusted friend. We've done any number of films together. When he decided to launch his son it was my duty and pleasure to support him."

Aarav seems to have inherited his father's generous nature. The little scenestealer has a heart of molten gold. When he sees a beggar boy at the traffic signal he promptly offers to share his school tiffin with the less privileged soul.

Akshay's comment on others besides the Khans being eligible for stardom has raised quite a few eyebrows.

"I don't see why . Believe me, I wasn't referring to any one Khan. Shah Rukh and I go back a long way. I truly admire his uninterrupted success. I've gone through really rough times. I know what it's like to be unsuccessful. Shah Rukh has never had to face rejection . I have."