By Subhash K Jha
Mallika Sherwat have been shown the door by Sachin Joshi who’s prepared to star in his post-debut film directed by Ankush Bhatt.
Azaan’s leading man Sachin Joshi has discovered that Mallika Sherawat who agreed to play the lead opposite him within the edgy Mumbai underworld thriller Mumbai Mirror, doesn’t come cheap. Or easy.
Having paid the selfstyled international star a whopping signing fee (approximately Rs 50 lakhs) to be a part of the film Joshi came upon that Mallika had various reservations concerning the film, and that included the director.
In a panic Joshi and his crew have spent a big a part of the last month seeking to convince the Diva that the project is worthy of her august presence.
To no avail.
The deal has fallen through. And now we hear Mallika has walked out of the project. Because the shooting in far-off exotic places was to start in May Joshi and his crew are stuck for a number one lady. He's now taking a look at a last-minute replacement and requesting his a reimbursement from Sherawat.
A source with reference to the project told us the entire details. “She isn't willing to go back the money and Sachin is being advised to regulate the quantity with a later project. Sachin Joshi is a producer who can afford to shop for himself the co-star he wants.
He wanted Mallika on this earthy edgy tackle Mumbai’s underworld. He had agreed to pay her a reported Rs 2 crores for 15 days work. Once you have get her to join up the dotted line the garments dates, etc were worked out. ”
That’s where the fastidious Ms Sherawat stuck.
Says the source, “Mallika had reservations concerning the director Ankush Bhatt. She felt he hadn’t proved himself yet. Joshi felt otherwise. He offered to turn Mallika the director’s first film Bhendi Bazar Inc.
But she was unconvinced. Then she had reservations about her role. Up to now Mallika has only played urban glamorous characters.
In Mumbai Mirror she was cast as an earthy gritty woman of the road. It’s a personality and an international that she wasn’t conversant in. Mallika wondered aloud if she could be in a position to pull it off. ”
Sachin Joshi tried to minimize the strain level. “Yes, Mallika does have reservations regarding her role and the director. She wasn’t sure if Ankush can be capable of deliver. I showed her Ankush’s first film Bhendi Bazaar Inc.
You see, Mumbai Mirror goes into an action space totally different from the stylized action that I did in Azaan. It’s like Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya meets Anees Bazmi’s Ready. And that i knew Ankush was right to direct it. ”
Sachin laughs, “The whole film is ready in Mumbai. It’s called Mumbai Mirror as it reflects the tough reality of the town under the polished surface. We were looking for a title when my eyes fell at the popular tabloid in my hands. Mumbai Mirror was perfect. ”
Courtesy: Mid-Day.com
