Akshay Kumar will soon be seen in a steamy Levi's ad featuring US supermodel Saira S. The actor shot for the commercial with foreign models in Los Angeles recently and was apparently paid eight crores for a one-year contract.

Breaking free

Akshay will be launching the 501(R) Jean, which is a direct descendant of the first pair of jeans ever made the message being Live Unbuttoned in India and has gone bare-bodied for the shoot.

When contacted, Akshay confirms, "The word unbuttoned appealed to me. Unbuttoning is not an act but an attitude. Though it was hectic, I involved myself in this. The word unbuttoned has a meaning for me. I saw all the international ads that they have shot for the 501 button fly and being a part of this was certainly exciting.

I am very selective in choosing the brands I endorse. The image and positioning of the brand is of utmost importance. Everything else is secondary."

The campaign has been shot by an international photographer. The concept says a woman gets pleasure by unbuttoning the jeans. Akshay added a dimension before the shoot. He told the brand manager that not just the physical aspect of unbuttoning but the entire campaign could be woven around the slogan ive life unbuttoned or liberate yourself. The concept is about freedom."

Akshay will launch the campaign in a mega event in Mumbai on August 26.