If this film was happening for real, lots and lots of dramas would have happened. But still, even though shooting is not happening, dramas are still happening. More and more reasons are being given as to why the film has been shelved. The blame is shifting from here to there.
It was bound to happen, but what’s funny is how this young actress’ PR is using this as an opportunity to show how she wasn’t interested in this film in the first place. Seriously?! Didn’t PapaJo make a freaking huge film so that she can be cast in this film? Also, didn’t the producers of this big South film she signed worked around her dates so that she can do both this film and the big South one? So, what other film she missed out on? Prabhas’ film or the other big Telugu film, whose teaser just released?
Also, the blind item might be fake. This director might be many things, but he ain’t the greedy type to jeopardize his big film over his own salary. It doesn’t make sense. And on top of that, superstar is not the producer of the film. It looks like now they are trying to throw the filmmaker under the bus!
Check out the blind item from Mumbai Mirror. By the way, Raymond ain’t too fond of this filmmaker since he made his first with him where he was tortured in the name of art. Poor Raymond never experienced something like that before and vowed to never work with said-filmmaker again! Both he and his co-star!
Bollywood Blind Item
A film top-lining a leading filmmaker, a superstar and the current it-girl of
Bollywood may have sounded like a fairy tale, but it turned out to be just a pipe dream. With the director known to extend budgets as well as schedules on a whim, it was believed that the larger-than-life project may not finish on time.
And then he is said to have demanded Rs 75 crore from the star, who is also the co-producer. Oh well, guess the industry is happier paying ridiculous amounts to stars but not the rest.
OSOP Guesses
Filmmaker: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Superstar: Salman Khan
It-Girl: Alia Bhatt
A source close to the project revealed, “The truth of the matter is that Bhansali’s cost of production of the film without Salman’s fee touched Rs 160 crore and his remuneration was decided by him as Rs 50 crore along with 40 percent profits. Since satellite and digital of Salman films are sold, none of the investors found any sense in investing almost Rs 210 crore and recovering it through only India theatrical and overseas.”
Industry reports suggest, “Bhansali also decided to keep the music rights with himself. Though Bhansali is known to mount very expensive films, Salman’s contention was this film was a simple love story of a Muslim tycoon based out of the US in love with a Hindu small-town girl and was not a period drama or a costume extravaganza to have a production budget of Rs 160 crore but he still let Bhansali decide the final budget.”
The source also added, “All along Salman offered to take over the production reins and offered to fund the film in entirety but this was also not acceptable to Bhansali. Bhansali may be one of the greatest directors but he is hardly one of the greatest of producers.
According to a source close to Bhansali, the ace filmmaker didn’t appreciate the constant interference in his artistic vision. The source said, “Sanjay Leela Bhansali respects and loves his actors and suggestions are welcome but not if they aim to alter the narrative. Hence, he has taken the decision to shelve the film. However, they are still friends and Sanjay Leela Bhansali has immense love and respect for him.”