Filmmaker Aanand L Rai, who kickstarted the shoot of his film "Raksha Bandhan" with Akshay Kumar on Monday, says the date June 21 is special to him because this was the day his hit film "Raanjhanaa" had released in 2013.

" Raanjhanaa", introducing Dhanush in Bollywood, also featured Abhay Deol and Sonam Kapoor in key roles.

"June 21 means a lot to me. This day made me courageous! Brave enough to tell the stories which I believed in. Eight years back on the same day 'Raanjhanaa' released, and today I started shooting for 'Raksha Bandhan'! May Mahadev grace this story the way he did 'Raanjhanaa'," Rai told IANS.

"Raksha Bandhan" stars Akshay Kumar and reunites him with "Toilet Ek Prem Katha" co-star Bhumi Pednekar.