Ekta Kapoor is rumoured to have postponed her film based on a Japanese novel ‘The Devotion of Suspect X’ due to differences with the director Sujoy Ghosh over the budget, may terminate contract with the director. The industry grapevine is abuzz with rumours that Ekta Kapoor’s upcoming project is being indefinitely postponed due to budget issues.
Sources say the producer had fixed Rs 20-crore budget, but the film’s director Sujoy Ghosh apparently demanded that it be doubled. An insider informs us, “After a lot of struggle, Ekta acquired the rights to the book. She signed a deal with Sujoy and had locked the casting too. However, as per the agreement, the director had to make the film within a limited budget of Rs. 20 crore. If overshot, the contract would be terminated.”
The long-in-the-planning, untitled film was supposed go on floors this month with Saif Ali Khan and Kangna Ranaut in pivotal roles. One more source confirms, “Ekta was keen to have a tight budget for the project, but Sujoy wanted her to extend it by another Rs 20 crore or so. But Ekta put her foot down as she does not want to make it a costly affair. So, she is likely to put the film on hold for the time being or even change the director.”
Sujoy has been denying all of this and says, “Ekta and I are thrilled about the whole concept and the superlative cast mix. The rumours around the film only seem to amuse me.” Shubhodip Pal of Balaji Films also insists that “there is no rift between Sujoy and Ekta.” Well, after all this hullabaloo, whom should we believe… Suggestions, anyone?
