UPFRONT

YASH JOHAR
Is it true that Shah Rukh Khan has directed Duplicate by proxy?
I don’t think that a few suggestions contributed by Shah Rukh can be construed as proxy-direction. There is no truth in these rumours. Mahesh Bhatt has directed the entire film and I am happy with the final result. Shah Rukh is a very hardworking actor and was involved totally in the making of the film. No doubt, he has made some valuable suggestions. But they have not been blindly accepted. Every improvisaton has been carefully discussed with Mahesh Bhatt. A good director always takes note of suggestions, in the interests of the film and Mahesh Bhatt has done exactly that. Everyone in this film has worked amicably, as a part of a team, under a good leader.

AYESHA JHULKA
Filmmakers have become wary of casting you in their films because of your non-co-operation and indiscipline, so much so that they have replaced you with another heroine for Hadh and Trishakti.
The allegations made against me are totally wrong. People are out to malign me. Yeah, I am out of Hadh but it is only because of the producer. He took my dates to shoot the climax in February. But I found out later that he had already shot the climax with the rest of the cast in January. When I asked him about it, he replied casually that it was because the other artistes were available. That’s quite illogical. He has not even made any payments. I think he is just trying to act smart.

HARISH THAWANI
At a time when the industry is going through such a rough patch you have announced an ambitious project to be shot abroad starring Sanjay Dutt, to be directed by Akaash Khurana and co-directed by a Hollywood director. Comment
It is not as if we are are shooting overseas for scenic locations. The script itself demands it. The story in its course, takes us to Australia and Europe. The action sequences are such that the director has to have technical expertise. The Hollywood director of our film has assisted in the direction of the film Mission Impossible. He will be executing all the special effects. We have signed Akaash Khurana for the screenplay and dialogues and to co-direct and supervise the entire process. All this is essential to make an excellent action film, not a sign of extravagance. About being ambitious, we all have to take some risks at some point. But it is a calculated risk. We are merely treating it as an investment, hoping that it will pay.