While most work in the film industry has come to an idle because of the current standoff between producers and multiplex owners Akshay Kumar is working harder than ever before.

He shot for two movies Priyadarshan’s Dan Dana Dan and Vipul Shah’s Action Replay back-to-back in April and May and now he proceeds to shoot for buddy Sajid Khan’s Houseful in July.

While many of his colleagues gave taken off for holidays Akshay has determined to work harder than before during this dry period. “We all should get together to create a bank of work to be released in a tumble of films once the film is released. In fact that’s what I’m doing.”

Akshay pursues a Japanese viewpoint on work ethics. “When there was a strike in a shoe factory in Japanese instead of staying home, all the workers got together and manufactured only shoes for the left foot. Then when the strike was over the manufactured shoes for the right foot.”

Even as Akshay gets busier than ever he has determined not to do any offbeat films at the moment. The Tasveer 8 x 10 experience and its shockingly low opening has left him astonished.

“There’re too much financial stakes in my films. I have to be cautious,” he tells.

It’s third time lucky for Akshay.

Vipul Shah was keen to cast Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Akshay together in Waqt and Namaste London.

“But because of Aishwarya’s problems with the dates the movies went to Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif, respectively. And look at what the movies did to the careers of those actresses! This time Vipul and Akshay were determined to get their first choice for the heroine’s role,” tells a source.

And it definitely seems like the right choice.

There’s magic in the air. Akshay and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are shooting in Karjat together.

And the friendship is super-congenial. Akshay has been keen to work with Aishwarya for a long time. He earlier did Raj Kumar Santoshi’s Khakee with. But there she played the anti-heroine.

“It’s great fun. And we share a great comfort level. I’m also very fond of Abhishek. So it feels like one family,” tells Akshay.