FARHAN excited for Wazir

Farhan Akhtar has directed action films, but says he was excited to feature as an actor in action scenes for the first time, smashing baddies in upcoming movie “Wazir”.

The Bejoy Nambiar-directed film is an action thriller -- starring Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan in lead roles along with Aditi Rao Hydari, John Abraham and Neil Nitin Mukesh, and is slated to release on January 8 next year.

 “I had a wonderful time doing action. I have directed action in films like 'Lakshya', 'Don' series. It is a different experience when you are directing it and doing action as an actor,” Farhan told reporters at a promotional event of “Wazir”.

“In films like 'Rock On' and 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' I get beaten up, so I was excited to do action on screen in this film,” the actor-director said.

The film is about two unlikely friends- a wheelchair-bound chess grandmaster (played by Amitabh Bachchan) and a fired brave anti-terror squad police officer (Farhan Akhtar). Both are brought together by grief and a strange twist of fate.

 “Tere Bin”, a song from the film, was also launched yesterday.

Asked about working with Amitabh Bachchan in “Wazir”, Farhan said he hoped to have the same level of enthusiasm when he reaches the Bollywood veteran's age.

“You don't go and speak to someone of his stature asking for tips. But you observe him and that is the best thing, see his enthusiasm and excitement today even after over 45 years and that is amazing. We hopefully think we also have same excitement like him at that age,” said Farhan, who had also directed Bachchan in “Lakshya”.

Farhan said directing and acting with Bachchan have different sets of challenges, but is an enjoyable experience. “I had great time working with him in either capacity,” he added. “As an actor I am young, I have grown up watching his films. I am a huge admirer of him,” he said.