Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff Brave the Elements for Bade Miyan Chote Miyan Sequel

"He's only 33, so he'll be alright," said Akshay Kumar beside Tiger Shroff on a freezing mountaintop in Wadi Rum, Jordan. As everyone else was clad in thermals, jackets, and hoodies, exposing their torsos, Tiger danced in a thin waistcoat. Since being shirtless is not Akshay's specialty, he dressed a little bit more for the fourth Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (BMCM) song picturization, which is slated for a significant Id release. As the rest of us began to feel like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, Akshay said, "That's why we get paid what we do," in reference to his personal exposure to the weather. Akshay recognizes the benefits of being famous, unlike some actors who enjoy being famous yet prefer to play victims.

Producer Vashu Bhagnani's marketing got off on a scale not seen in recent times with a wrap-up celebration when he displayed a behind-the-scenes teaser of his two-hero action flick. He invited 52 pan-Indian media to Jordan. He said, "I wanted something out of this world for our songs." How else might I get this? His hand moved across the great stretch of desert, hills, and unclouded sky. Jackky, the son who has gained confidence and is taking on his father's role to pull off such a large production, stated, "If we had shown you a promo, it wouldn't have been the same as personally seeing these locations." He smiled, "Dad's still the one with the money." "I'm focusing more on the artistic aspect."

"Are you aware this is where Lawrence of Arabia (1962) was filmed?" I was questioned by Akshay. Among the Hollywood productions that have been filmed in Jordan are Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), The Martian (2015), Aladdin (2019), and The Dune (2021). The Goat Life, Prithviraj's Malayalam film Aadujeevitham, is another. Interestingly, Prithvi is also BMCM's primary antagonist.

Olivewood, Hollywood, and Bollywood. The latter is making a real effort to court the first two; in fact, there's a studio called Olivewood in Jordan, a nation that welcomes movies and has a single window open for filming. Biblical sites coexist with the Bedouin experience, including Wadi Rum, with its ethereal atmosphere, Petra, one of the seven wonders of the world (where Tiger filmed for Munna Michael in 2017), and the Dead Sea, the lowest area below sea level on Earth. Israel, a troubled country, is surrounded by sparkling blue lights that set it apart from its neighbor. But the filming in Jordan went off without a hitch, except for the occasional glimpse of fighter jets racing across the sky.

The action sequences were filmed in London, Vashu's home base, and Glasgow, Abu Dhabi. Other directors have also been enticed to his expansive Pooja Studio in London, including Ajay Devgn's Shaitaan, which co-stars R. Madhavan.

"I had the desire to visit Holly-wood," said Vashu, a constructor who owns a construction company. London is halfway there, and he still has the Atlantic passage in front of him.

Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky's destination wedding on February 20 is the family's next major undertaking. Vashu, who is excited about the event, said, "We considered Doha but decided on Goa." "I always see the bright side of things. Standing at Wadi Rum, he added, "If not, we wouldn't be here." He meant it both literally and symbolically. The groom isn't frightened or concerned since he's been too busy with BMCM. "It might hit me maybe five days before the event," he said. "But I'm getting married to my best friend."

Producers and heroes collaborate on every aspect these days. Tiger, who was on the wishlist, intervened once Akshay was on board. Writer-director Ali Abbas Zafar gave a nod, and BMCM was up and running. Oddly enough, Amitabh Bachchan was 56 years old in 1998 when the first BMCM was released. Today, Akshay is 56 years old. In March, Tiger will be 34, and Govinda was 35.

On the chartered aircraft return, Akshay, Tiger, and the Bhagnanis were accompanied by members of the press, bringing back memories of their former practise of inviting the press along for outdoor shoots. Will BMCM revive the heyday of the 1990s?

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.