June 3, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Salman Khan’s ambitious plans to bring all the three Khan brothers together in a modernized remake of Manmohan Desai’s Amar Akbar Anthony has fallen through.

While most other problems of remaking such a popular film could be surmounted, the one hurdle that no one could find a way out of was to make Salman step into Big B’s shoes without looking presumptuous.

The Khans and David Dhawan had planned to cast Arbaaz ,Sohail and Salman as Amar(played originally by Vinod Khanna), Akbar(played by Rishi Kapoor in Desai’s film) and Anthony(played by the Big B) respectively. While re-casting the first two actors was a breeze, getting Salman to do Big B’s role proved impossible.

Apparently Salman had himself begged off from the huge responsibility .

Admitting that the remake of AAA is now a dead project David says, “It was just impossible to do it again. Can you imagine anyone else except Mr Bachchan as Anthony Gonzalves? It’s a role he has made his own for as long as time exists.”

With AAA shelved, the sequel to the 2007 blockbuster Partner is now being revived by the Khans in right earnestness.

A story idea has finally been cracked and Partner 2 is to go on the floors early next year in lieu of Amar Akbar Anthony.

Dhawan admits Partner 2 is on the way, “We’ve got an idea and we’re developing it. While the core cast of Salman and Govinda will remain all the other actors will change.”

–Subhash K Jha / Sampurn Wire