The industry’s arguably most bankable star Akshay Kumar held court at a press conference of “ Singh is Kinng” at the Hilton Hotel here on July 25 organized by its distributors Studio 16 and producers Adlabs Films Ltd.

The conference opened with Kumar denying the suggestion that the title of the movie implied that it was targeted towards Punjabis. Pointing to the cross on a chain on his neck he said “Look I am wearing a cross – but I am a Punjabi. I believe in everything.” He explained the message he wished to convey in this movie is that anybody with a positive attitude can become a ‘King’ too. He added that it was not money or power which made one happy but how one dealt with life. In a world filled with negatives when all one sees or reads about is murder, rape, war etc he said he hoped his “small” film would cheer and inspire audiences to develop , in his words “positivity” to face life with grace and joy.

The film took seed while after a shooting for “Bhool Bhuliya” when Akshay Kumar found himself driving behind a truck with the message “Singh is King” displayed at its rear. The banner stuck in his head. Flashing his lights for clearance to overtake, the driver, a Sardar gave way and when being passed he gave Kumar such a cheerful greeting with a beaming smile that he was struck by the ordinary driver’s positive attitude. Even being in what was obviously a very difficult profession and circumstances. On getting home he immediately called his producer Vipul Shah and told him he had to make a movie with this name and with the positive personality of the truck driver he had encountered. He hopes this becomes a landmark film as it is his first home production.

In defense of the knowledge of English of the driver the “King” on the back of the truck was correctly spelt with a single “n” and Kumar clarified it was for numerological considerations that Vipul Shah had added an extra “n” to make it “Kinng” as he had done in his production “ Namastey London “ when the “Y” was added at the end for the same reason.

He said it includes both comedy and action. He reminded audiences it was far more difficult to pull off comedy than the action scenes which he said are “easy.” But he made it clear in “Kinng” the action is of the humorous variety which anyone from a child to a grandparent would enjoy. He said that he has come to abhor violence and brutality and prefers to gift fans with light hearted fare which was worth spending their money on rather than grim, serious stuff or loads of bloodshed and carnage. At the same time he clarified that he would not refuse serious roles outright, citing his performance in the thriller “Eight By Ten” under production.

Referring to his role in “Kinng” the still boyish looking actor said it was one for which needed no preparation whatsoever as his character “Happy Singh” is a reflection of his own positive philosophy. “The role just flowed “he added “because it is me.”

Katrina Kaif is a “perfect ‘ producer’s actress” complimented Akshay Kumar about his co-star in the film. He recalled she had arrived in India with just stars in her eyes without knowing a single word – even “shukriya” in Hindi. “That she had learned the language as also Urdu so quickly and efficiently speaks volumes of her professionalism and dedication he added. “She’s huge now” he gushes pointing out she has delivered 5 back to back hits, matched by very very few in the history of Bollywood.

When asked about his meeting with Sylvester Stallone recently who plays a part in a movie Kumar is shooting, he indulged in a brief flash back when he reminisced about his humble beginnings as a waiter. At his workplace he had a poster of Stallone, because he wanted to be macho like him and another of Sreedevi because he hoped to have a girlfriend like her one day. At that time he said it had been just a dream and now, what more could he ask for life when he had already lived that dream by having been able to work with and gain the friendship of both his idols?

“Globalization is very big for me” stated Akshay Kumar and in this context he felt he was entering into production at the most opportune time. Bollywood he said is fast gaining ground worldwide and international audiences have started realizing that it is not just about singing songs and running around trees. Just a couple of years ago he remarked that releases were made with around 800 prints , but today it had touched 2000 and he predicts this would explode to 4000 by 2010.

The secret he attributes for his success seems much too oversimplified but something the “Kinng” deeply believes works for him. For one thing he starts every project with “ Om,” – his father’s name and the other , he touches the feet of his parents and then he goes to work and lets their magic blessings do the rest. In response to who he thought was his competition he shot back – “I am my competition – I try to do better every time.”

The Press Conference was moderated by Rashmi Goel of Bollywood Steps.

“Singh is Kinng” opens in theaters on August 8, 2008.