After making most of his movies with Akshay Kumar [Images], Suneel Darshan has decided to move on. He will now launch his son Shiv as leading man.

"The boy is not just a fine lad. He is tall, handsome and, if I may say so myself, star material in the same league as Dharmendra [Images]. Of course, I will produce his film, but he is free to be directed by anyone else," says the proud father.

Although the director, who has worked with Akshay Kumar in his most important films (including Jaanwar, which turned Akshay's career around) is tightlipped about the subject, it seems unlikely that Suneel and Akshay will work together in the near future. According to close associates of the director, Akshay hasn't been in touch with Suneel for months.

"There is no immediate project," says Suneel. "Dosti was our last film together. Before I launch my son in 2007, Manish Malhotra will launch his directorial venture under my banner. He has promised not to take up any assignments as a costume designer after Karan Johar's [Images] film, so he can focus on direction."

Will Manish's film star Akshay? "That is entirely Manish's call. I have nothing to do with it," says Suneel. "I would like to say one thing though. The three turning points in Akshay Kumar's career have been Jaanwar, Ek Rishta and Andaaz. The first got him out of the potboiler mould. The second gave him respectability as an actor. And Andaaz was his big solo hit. I will miss working with Akshay, but we'll come together only when the comfort level returns to the way it was."

Text: Subhash K Jha | Photograph: Pradeep Bandekar