Rajeev Masand: Money in Hand, Missing in Action

Courtesy Rajeev Masand of Open Magazine:

It appears that this 50-something male star has become a thorn in the side of his producers. The actor allegedly greenlighted an action movie whose script he was offered by a first-time director, accepted a Rs 1 crore signing amount for the film, then went incommunicado for the next two years or so. The desperate filmmakers simply couldn’t get in touch with the star to procure his dates so they could start the film. When an actor-producer who was acquainted with the unprofessional star intervened on behalf of the harrowed filmmakers, the star revealed that he was no longer convinced about the script and had no interest in doing the movie anymore. Asked to return the signing amount in that case, the star refused. He’d already used it, he said, and added that it wasn’t his fault the script wasn’t good enough to go.

Left with no other option, the filmmakers spent the better part of the third year working on a new script. This was to be an ensemble piece, as the star had categorically said he no longer wanted to do an action movie that he’d be required to carry on his shoulders. He also offered only 15 shooting dates for the film, and demanded an additional Rs 7 crore as his fee. All terms were agreed upon. The new script that was delivered was a suspense thriller on the lines of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, and production finally began in Goa where the star had promised to show up on an agreed date.

On the said date, the filmmakers reportedly received a call from the star’s smarmy manager, who announced that his boss wouldn’t be flying in as he was tied up with legal issues. He couldn’t confirm when the star would ultimately show up, and hinted that he might be able to help if his palms could be greased. After pocketing a cool Rs 35 lakh, the manager ensured that the star arrived in Goa for the shoot, albeit a week after the initially agreed date.