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Andaaz UK Release: May 2003. Produced by Suneel Darshan, story & direction by Raj Kanwar, music by Nadeem Shravan, lyrics by Sameer. Starring Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra with Rajeev Verma, Pankaj Dheer, Gajendra Chauhan, Vivek Shauq, Maya Alagh, Navni Parihar, Beena, Kunika, Supriya Karnik, Asha Sharma, Vishwajeet Pradhan, Prithvia Zutshi, Ghanshyam, Bobby Bedi, Master Mohit, Baby Alisha, Babu Anushka, Kushaal Punjabi and Aman Verma and Johny Lever.

Bollywood Stars Akshay Kumar and leading ladies Lara Dutta (Miss Universe 2000) and Priyanka Chopra (Miss World 2000) attended a press conference in London on Friday 25th April 2003 to promote their long awaited film 'Andaaz' scheduled for UK release in May.

This is the first time that the two beauties, Dutta and Chopra, have come together in a Hindi movie alongside established Bollywood heartthrob, Akshay Kumar. In true hero style, Kumar has earned the grateful thanks of his co-star, Lara Dutta, after pulling her out of the sea during a failed song shoot in Cape Town, South Africa.

Although Bollywood is currently under much pressure, notching up more failures than successes, Suneel Darshan the producer of 'Andaaz' is taking no chances with this light romantic movie and features two of the World's most beautiful women alongside the more bankable Akshay Kumar.

At the press conference the stars were happy to oblige waiting photographs by recreating poses from the film posters and answering queries about their lives and off screen romances. UK-based music maestro Nadeem Sharavan's tracks for the film 'Andaaz' are proving popular with the CD already becoming the fastest selling of 2003 in India.

'Andaaz' is scheduled for UK release in May 2003.

ABOUT ANDAAZ

Raj (Akshay Kumar) and Kajol (Lara Dutta) have been friends since childhood. Kajol has a strong fascination for aircrafts and has always wanted to fly away into the clouds with the man of her dreams. Meanwhile, Raj who is secretly in love with Kajol enrols on a training course to become an Air Force officer so that he can fulfil her dreams and make them a reality.

But upon his return Raj discovers Kajol is already married. Unable to bear the pain and face his love so regularly without being able to attain her, Raj moves to South African to further his flying career and get over Kajol.

There he meets Jiya (Priyanka Chopra). She falls in love with our hero and he reciprocates. But deep down he is still in love with his childhood sweetheart whom his heart can never forget. One day the past meets the present and Kajol and Jiya's paths cross for the first time. The result is a series of emotions dealing with the interlinked relationships based on these three characters.

Raj Kanwar, the director with emotional flamboyance and an endless list of mega successes like 'Deewana', 'Laadla', 'Judaai' and 'Jaan' to his credit now wields his megaphone for 'Andaaz', a daringly different film the showcases what happens when feelings from the past meet the future.

THE CAST & CREW OF 'ANDAAZ'

AKSHAY KUMAR

Once voted the sexiest man in India, Akshay Kumar is no stranger to hard work and success. After the UK Box Office smash 'Talaash', the action man gears up for this latest release that packs as big a punch as any of his breathtaking action films do. His change of image post 'Jaanwar', 'Ek Rishta, 'Dhadkan', ' Aankhen' and 'Awara Pagel Deewana' can be seen in his recent pick of films. Rajkumar Santhoshi's 'Khaki', Dharmesh Darshan's 'Bewafaa' and Suneel Darshan's 'Mere Jeeven Saathi'. Playing an Air Force Officer for the first time in 'Andaaz', Akshay Kumar adds yet another feather to his cap.

PRIYANKA CHOPRA

Former Miss World (2000), Priyanka Chopra appears for the first time with her colleague Lara Dutta. The daughter of an army officer, Priyanka has travelled around the country and completed her schooling in Boston, USA. Her career choices included software engineering and criminal psychology. Fate led her to participate in the Femina 'Miss India' contest. Nicknamed "Sunshine" Priyanka claims her good luck charm is her bracelet that bears the religious words 'Om Namah Shivaya'.

Priyanka admits that 'Andaaz' is a regular love story, but the way in which it is portrayed makes to special. "There is nothing different if you look at the story, but it's the way the romantic scenes have been treated and the other tiny details that make it special" she said.

After Andaaz, she will next be seen in Deol's 'Gandhi' and in K C Bokadia's 'Ek Hazeena Ek Deewana' and Rajiv Rai's 'Asambhav'.

LARA DUTTA

Former Miss Universe and Miss Photogenic (2000), Lara Dutta debuts in Hindi cinema with 'Andaaz'. Lara (named after the title track 'Lara's Theme' from Dr Zhivago) says her favourite actress is Jodie Foster.

The well-known model says Akshay turned real-life hero when he saved her life on the set of 'Andaaz'. "We had quite close shave while shooting a song in Cape Town on a rocky shore. We got slightly adventurous and the next thing we knew we were pulled into waves. Akshay saved my life by pulling me out of the water".

This Bangalore girl has bagged two more films, Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Aan' and Apoorva Lakhia's 'Mumbai Se Aaya Mere Dost'.

SUNEEL DARSHAN

Suneel Darshan's 'Talaash' was 2003's first release that made an impact at the UK Box Office and before that his film 'Ek Rishta' was a huge success. He conceptualised 'Andaaz' with the Kapoor sisters Karisma and Kareena as the leads, "but were working within a tight budget so I brought in two girls who were new to the screen and yet stars in their own right. To have the former Miss Universe Lara Dutta and the former Miss World Priyanka Chopra together in their first film seemed like a good USP. The are young girls with great figures and intelligent minds. What's more they are fabulous actresses and through professionals" he added.

With ' Andaaz', Darshan also launches his own music label Shree Krishna Studio.