Big B upset with Mayawati diktat on Aarakshan

Amitabh Bachchan and director Prakhash Jha have been told they cannot meet with students in Lucknow on Thursday to discuss their new film, Aarakshan.

Mr Bachchan is one of the stars of the movie which examines the issue of reservation based on caste. Currently in Patna to promote the film, Mr Bachchan tweeted several times to express his disappointment:

"And now the bad news .. our Lucknow trip tomorrow cancelled because the U.P administration withdraws all permission to conduct promo."

"The administration does not allow us to enter the city..unofficial reports by police say they have instructions to arrest us if we do."

"They say it is a sensitive subject and do not want us to enter the city even...without even seeing the film, duly Censored ?? Strange"

Mr Bachchan then tweets that Delhi would be the next stop for the film's promotion.

"But we must follow the law of the land .. and the principles that our Constitution is based on .. will go straight to Delhi now."

Mayawati's government had said that the discussion with students could pose a potential law and order problem. In a letter, officials said that the scheduled meeting at Lucknow University could provoke protests by political parties.

The film also stars Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Manoj Bajpai. It releases on August 12.

"My film is not political at all; it is based on the status of higher education in our country today. But I don't know there is some kind of apprehension; there are leaders who are worried about the outcome of the film. Nobody has contacted me, or asked me to show the film. The Censor Board has already seen it and approved it," said director Prakash Jha.

No Bachchan for Genelia

His reputation for over crowding his films with A-listers and undertaking exclusively male centric projects has paid off for the most part for director Rohit Shetty. But, with the latest turn of events he might have to reconsider this formula that has usually won him critical acclaim.

Reportedly, the leading lady in his upcoming production Bol Bachchan, Genelia D’Souza, felt inconsequential in the Abhishek Bachchan and Ajay Devgn starrer and so, opted out of the film.

Apparently, Shetty was rather taken-aback by the actress’s decision and tried very hard to convince her to stay on-board.

However, Genelia, who was to essay Bindiya Goswami’s character in the original, was adamant about not going forward with the project. A source explained that while Shetty has had to return to the drawing board to cast another actress, his losses are minimal as the film has not yet gone on floors.

The source explained, “If shooting was in process, Shetty would have to re-shoot with Genelia’s replacement, which in turn would have increased the cost of the film.

At least now, producers Ashtavinayak will not have to bear a hole in their pocket. It was a good call for Genelia to opt out before the film went on floors.”

When asked why the actress opted out, the source said, “When she read the script, Genelia felt that she didn’t have a very significant role in the film. But that is with most of Shetty’s films - either they are too crowded or they are male-centric.”

However, a friend of the actress came to her defence and denied these claims. “Her dates are clashing with Navdeep Singh’s film, starring Abhay Deol. She had to chose one between the two,” said the actress’s friend.

With Genelia giving up her role in the film, the industry is already abuzz with speculation about her possible replacement. And it seems that Prachi Desai is the most likely contender.

“Shetty spoke to Prachi, who instantly agreed to step into Genelia’s shoes,” added the source. When contacted, both Genelia and Prachi remained unavailable for comment.

Luv Ranjan can't cast an established actor

Luv Ranjan

First-time Director Luv Ranjan tells us about his first experience of directing a film, how he dealt with an entirely new cast and why he isn't working with bigger stars even with the provision of a bigger budget.

About newcomers in "Pyaar Ka Punchnama"
I was a little skeptical about finding the right people, not working with a new cast. I spend a lot of time on auditions, almost eight months because as a first time Director, one gets impatient because you want to start the film. I had to remind myself that if in a hurry I cast the wrong people, the film will go for a toss. I was not only looking for good actors, I was looking for stars. I wanted good-looking people who could act. There were difficulties on set because these guys are not as experienced as actors who have been there in the industry for a long time. I did various workshops with the actors. The chemistry was very important in the film so I made the actors stay in the two bedroom apartment, they would come at 9am and leave after shooting, that is what created chemistry. They never went to their private vanity vans after shots; they were always there for each other.

About Directing for the first-time
You get to know what directing is all about when you have twelve shots to take and the sun is setting. No one can teach you directing. It is an experience. I feel confident now after completing the film. If asked to make the same film again, I might change a few things. I am happy with the final product.

About acting in future
I have no interest in acting. People believe that whoever comes to Mumbai comes to become an actor and ends up becoming something else after failure but I always wanted to be a writer. I wrote the script and lyrics of "Pyaar Ka Punchnama". I might just do a cameo in a film for the fun of it but I have no interest in acting whatsoever.

About his Delhi days
I am from Gaziabad and studied in Hindu. The film is shot in Delhi because people pick up ideas from what they have experienced, Delhi is my experience and people will witness true Delhi and NCR in the film. Dilliwalo ki film hai. In Delhi I was not the kind of guy who would go to a bar to drink, I was the theka type who would drink in cars and then have races with friends. We would sit with thullas and drink, but that's what Delhi's young population is all about.

About future projects
My second film which will be coming out in October is also Delhi based. It will be a hardcore romantic film. It is tentatively titled "Saathi" and I am still shuffling between two titles. That film was supposed to be shot in winters in Delhi but we missed the winters. That film will have a bigger budget. Even with a bigger budget I never wanted experienced actors because it's a story about 20-year-old's. I can't cast an established 40-year-old star for such a role.

Shyam Benegal will be back soon with another comedy flick

After over four decades of filmmaking 73-year-old director Shyam Benegal has found a new inspiration and that's comedy. The success of Welcome to Sajjanpur is now behind him and the veteran filmmaker is now all set to tickle the audience's funny bone once again.

“After a very long time I had a film that was a popular success. Everybody seems to have liked it. Everywhere, from multiplexes to c-class cities to town,” says filmmaker Shyam Benegal.

Shyam Benegal’s films have always catered to a niche audience but finally after the success of Welcome to Sajjanpur he has been able to meet with the commercial success. And the filmmaker who has rarely dabbled in comedy now plans to entertain the masses with another light humorous venture.

“It is a comedy, it is also a satire. It is a little more political than what my last film was and I hope it will be very funny. The main part is of Boman Irani. He is a wonderful actor and there are many other people as we have a large cast but I cannot name them as no one is confirmed yet,” says Shyam.

So, after numerous thought provoking and serious films which earned him a name in the new wave phase of Indian parallel cinema, it looks like Shyam Benegal has found that nothing beats the sweet smell of success that comes with popular cinema.