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Priyadarshan's new Hindi film in controversy
Thiruvananthapuram,  Veteran director Priyadarshan's next Bollywood venture faces controversy as the author of the original Malayamam film, on which the new project is based, has said the story was being changed without his permission. Madhu Muttom, who wrote the story for "Manichithrathazhu", told reporters here Thursday that Priyadarshan had not taken his consent while basing his new project on the award-winning Malayalam film. "This story of 'Manichithrathazhu' is mine. Isn't it only proper that if this story is going to be used, they should at least speak to me? It is not proper to mutilate my story. I am raising this issue not from a monetary aspect but from the point of a writer who is the creator," Muttom told "Manichithrathazhu" was a super-hit in 1992-93 and shot the lead pair of Mohanlal and Shobana to dizzying heights.

Priyadarshan to shoot ad for Coca-Cola Pakistan
By Sanu George,

Thiruvananthapuram, June 15 Ace Bollywood film director Priyadarshan is all set to shoot commercials for Coca-Cola Pakistan in Mumbai next month. 

The director of hit films like "Hera Pheri" and "Garam Masala" has been approached by the Pakistan wing of the soft drinks giant to make ads on Coca-Cola and Kinley mineral water.

"The dates have now been finalised and they would be shot in Mumbai for two days from July 24. We will shoot one day for the Coca-Cola commercial and one day for Kinley mineral water," Priyadarshan told IANS over the phone from Mumbai. 

He said the company got interested in him after the huge success of his Coca-Cola commercial featuring Aamir Khan and Jyothika. 

Priyadarshan will be making the film for Lahore-based ad agency Maccan Pakistan. 

"They have selected the models for the commercial and it includes one boy, two ladies and a child, all Pakistanis. The post production work would be done in Mumbai," said Priyadarshan. 

He disclosed that the Kinley ad would revolve around a pregnant mother asking for water and her elder son telling her that she should drink only Kinley's as it was pure and would be best for the unborn baby. 

About the Coca-Cola ad storyline, he said: "The scene is at a bus stop where a boy and a girl interact." 
 

Priyadarshan had refused 'Phir Hera Pheri'
By Subhash K. Jha,

Mumbai, June 14 Noted director Priyadarshan was supposed to direct "Phir Hera Pheri", the comedy that released on the same day as his own comic "Chup Chup Ke", but had refused.

"Chup Chup Ke", starring Shahid Kapur and Kareena Kapoor, was released on June 9 as was the Neeraj Vora-directed film.

"I was aware of this. But the best part is I was supposed to direct the sequel (of 'Hera Pheri'). I refused. I couldn't take the second part anywhere new. There is no point in doing an instant replay of what I have done already. I'd rather do something completely new," Priyadarshan told IANS. 

"That's exactly what I am working on. It is a project in Tamil called 'Kanjeevaram'. With this film on the silk weavers of Kanjeevaram I'll be going back to my roots. It's just a one-hour-20-minutes experimental film that comes straight from my heart." 

What he leaves unsaid is that he had a bad time doing "Hera Pheri" with producer Sajid Nadiadwala, who had insisted on adding glamorous content after Priyadarshan had completed the film, without his consent. 

Hence Priyadarshan's reluctance to work with the extra-enthusiastic producer. He plans to shoot "Kanjeevaram" in the monsoon.

The simultaneous release of a film he has made and one he could've made is weighing on Priyadarshan's mind. 

"Neeraj Vora is a friend and a close associate. He writes the dialogues of most of my films, including for 'Chup Chup Ke'. Fortunately 'Chup Chup Ke' isn't an all-out slapstick comedy. About 75 percent of the film is humorous but the last 25 percent is unpredictable."

"I'd say 'Chup Chup Ke' is my first true love story since 'Doli Sajaa Ke Rakhna' (the Akshaye Khanna-Jyotika starrer). That bombed but I am sure 'Chup Chup Ke' will touch people's hearts at a time when love stories seem to be out of favour."

One speciality of "Chup Chup Ke"...

"The entire film has been done in white. Everything from the indoors to the outdoors is done up in that shade."

Priyadarshan is still smarting over the scathing reviews of his last comedy "Malamaal Weekly". 

"I was asked what I'd do if I win a lottery. I said I'd give the money to a critic of my choice to make a film of his choice. It is so easy for critics to rip a film. Have they eaten back their words after 'Malamaal's' success? Or are they waiting to tear my other film apart?" 
 

Govinda, Akshay team up for a comedy
By Subhash K. Jha,

Mumbai, April 18  Akshay Kumar and Govinda will be seen together for the first time in Priyadarshan's comedy "Bhagam Bhag", which also stars Lara Dutta and Paresh Rawal.

Audiences have earlier seen them exercise their prowess for comedy individually. Govinda was a laugh-riot in David Dhawan's comedies like "Haseena Maan Jaayegi", "Coolie No. 1", and "Raja Babu".

Akshay proved his mettle in Priyadarshan's laughathons including the recent "Garam Masala".

Priyadarshan, who plans to move to serious subjects after the new film, told IANS: "It's a comedy called 'Bhagam Bhag'. As the title suggests it is a totally crazy comedy of errors like Stanley Kramer's 'It's A Mad Mad Mad World'.

"It involves characters in a theatrical group from India who have to perform in London.

"The actors in the group include Akshay Kumar who is the villain in the play, Govinda is the hero while Paresh Rawal owns the repertory. At the airport the heroine, who's fed up of Akshay and Govinda, refuses to turn up. 

"Once in London they have to look for a heroine. It's a crazy film."

Priyadarshan has just returned from London after finalising locations.

"The entire film has to be shot in the city. This will be my first film to be shot entirely abroad since 'America America' in Malayalam."

Sanjay Dutt will make a guest appearance in the film, which starts shooting in June.

Priyadarshan is enormously enthusiastic. "First I'll shoot a song for the film before going into full shooting in June. I never worked with Govinda before, nor seen any of his films.

"But the role in 'Bhagam Bhag' is tailor-made for Govinda. He's a guy who cannot communicate in any language but his mother tongue in London.

"Both Akshay and Govinda are good in their comic timing. And I am going to cash in on that. This is going to be my last comedy for a while. I'll be shifting to a couple of serious subjects after this."

It certainly looks like payback time for Govinda, who has landed himself plum assignments with David Dhawan, Nikhil Advani, Aparna Sen and Priyadarshan.