Gurmukh Singh

Toronto, Dec 18 Bollywood star Akshay Kumar announced here on Thursday that he would make a cross-cultural film on Canada with ice hockey as the theme even as he ran in bone-chilling temperature for the Winter Olympic torch relay.

"I love ice hockey, and I am in the processing making this film. I will start work on it next year,'' the "Singh is Kingg" hero said here while participating the torch relay race for the 2010 Winter Olympics to be held in Vancouver.

But he could not complete the 300-metre torch run as protesters opposing the staging of the Olympics blocked the race.

Since ice hockey is very popular among all Canadians, Akshay said he wants to show how this game has bridged cultural differences between different people.

Hinting that he might also make a Punjabi film, he said,"I am Punjabi and I love the language. I have just done a small role in a Punjabi film, and I won't rule out any film in the future.''

Akshay, who owns a house and has permanent residence status here, said Canada is "like a second home to me. I love Canada. Though the weather here is cold, people are very warm.''

He said his connection with Canada has deepened over the years since he came here first in 1995.

"Seven-eight of my films have been shot in Toronto and Vancouver, and six of them have done very well. So I have special connections with this country,'' he said.

He also recalled the help extended by Canadians when his father was brought to Toronto for medical treatment some time ago.

Thanking Canada for inviting him to run with the Olympic torch, he said, "It is a dream come true.

"I am honoured and privileged to have been selected as an official torchbearer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic torch relay. I would like to thank Canadians for this honour and recognition,'' he said.

He said he was also happy about Toronto hosting the 'Bollywood Oscars' in 2012. "I am very happy that the event is coming to Toronto. It will be a great honour for Canada.''

However, he was not very happy about his films his year, saying that "this year three to four films (of mine) didn't do that well.''

Later in the evening he ran with the Olympic torch on the famous Yonge Street in the heart of Toronto in bone-chilling winter. Even the minus eight-degree temperature failed to deter people as thousands lined up both sides of the street to have a glimpse of the star.

However, Akshay could not finish his 300-metre run as protesters blocked the street to highlight the treatment of Native Indians by the Canadian government.

Hundreds of policemen intervened to remove the agitators who kept shouting slogans against the holding of the Olympics on lands taken away from the original natives of Canada.

Akshay was one of the international torch-bearers selected by the Olympic organizing committee.