After convincing Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina to appear in Housefull 2, the two Sajids are trying to pull off yet another coup. Director Sajid Khan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala are now trying to get their film’s lead actors Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh to feature as umpires during next year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).
Says a source, “Since the film releases immediately after IPL 2012 in April, the two Sajids are trying hard to form an association with the cricketing bodies to try and get their actors to officiate in a match or two. This will not only add some glamour quotient to the cricket proceedings, but will also act as a major publicity tool for Housefull 2.”
The biggest challenge, however, is to figure out a way to get non-cricketers like Riteish and Akshay to participate in a match as officials. “While Riteish has had some formal experience in cricket due to his participation in the ‘Celebrity Cricket League’, Akshay’s association with the game is restricted to gully cricket only,” the source continues.
Sajid Nadiadwala is in talks with the IPL governing body to understand the logistics involved. He is also trying to make sure that if not for the entire match, Akshay and Riteish could take to the ground for a few overs at least. Eventually, if nothing else works out, they may just be seated in a private cabin at the stadium and give their views unofficially,” the source added.