Kanti announces 2 Big Films...

Mr. Shah, it is our understanding that you have some major announcements to make today. Before we start asking you questions sent by our readers, we’d like to give you the opportunity to make your announcements.

Thank you. As many of you are aware, our banner is working on 2 productions side by side. The first of these is Fashion directed by Ang Lee Bhansali starring Natasha Rai, Malini Malhotra and introducing Deepika Parajuli & Rehan Khan. The second film “My Name is Khan” was initially announced as my production. The film has undergone many changes which I would not like to discuss at this time. However, My Name is Khan will star Neeraj Khan and Monisha Malhotra with a host of Americans based in New York City. Monisha stole the show and did a fantastic job for me in Race. Signing her on for My Name is Khan was an obvious choice since we needed reliable top actors in order to sell this ambitious venture. She is young, talented and extremely hard working and professional girl who values commitment and always keeps her word. Mark my words, she will emerge to become the top actress in Trollywood soon.

The first question comes from Toronto, Canada. Are you sure that Natasha Rai is still part of Fashion considering she is no longer part of T-Fare family and has been accused of stealing articles?

Natasha has always been part of the T-Fare family. We are all human beings. To err is human and to forgive is divine. So, let’s not get into this controversy of her plagiarizing articles. She is one of the founders of our organization and a lot of our success is based on her hard work and publicity for our site. To answer your question, yes she is very much part of Fashion where she’ll play a parallel role with Malini Malhotra as supermodel Meghna. Priyanka Chopra won all the awards for this role and I am sure Natasha will do full justice as well. My producer tells me that all 3 actresses are gearing up to fit into the skin of their characters. While Malini is undergoing free weights training to build muscle mass and gain weight, Natasha is rigorously doing cardio to loose weight. Even newcomer Deepika is very excited about her dare bare scenes and wants to stand out in front of her senior actresses. Who knows, she might come out as the surprise packet of Fashion and go on to become a top star like Monisha!

Your banner is known to be a ruthless one that reserves best roles for established stars and takes advantage of newcomers. No wonder you threw newcomers Rehan and Malati out of MNIK and replaced them with top actors. This is the second time you have done this to Malati. How can you be so cold and calculative?

My Name is Khan was written with Rehan and Malati in mind. However, after their controversial break-up, Malati refused to work with Rehan so we were left with no option but to replace her. Even Monisha was not an established actress until we cast her in Race so it is wrong to assume that we only work with established actresses. Our banner has given many newcomers a chance. However, once the film releases, it is up to the audience to accept of reject an actor. At the end of the day we are in the movie making business and we cannot sign on people that don’t make sense from a business perspective. We need to sell our films and make a profit to survive! Rehan was replaced because of strong audience demand to see him in this author backed role. In order to be fair to Rehan, we have cast him in Fashion opposite Natasha Rai. If the audience accepts him in this role, I am sure we will give him a more significant role in our next production.

Sasha Basu has lashed out at you in a TrollyGossips interview claiming that you put her on the casting couch and finally threw her out of Dostana. As they say, there is no smoke without fire. Please comment.

Sasha screen tested for Dostana and was rejected by our producer (and not me) because her look didn’t fit into the modern concept of this film. People are bound to be bitter after a rejection and nothing appeals to a starlet more than cheap publicity. She is obviously trying to use my name for publicity. Unfortunately for her, no one is going to believe stories made up by a C-grade actress in a D-grade gossip site. I suggest she spend more time on loosing weight and stop trying to dig dirt.

Your debut directorial venture Race evoked a mixed response when it was released. But the strongest reaction came from Shonali Kapoor who said it was a “cheap copy of the original.” She had also criticized your casting the 3 actresses saying that they “did not suit the parts at all.” According to her, you know very little about direction so you use big stars, controversies and sensationalism to sell your films.

I never take her comments seriously, to be quite honest. And what does a convicted prostitute know about direction or even films for that matter? Race has emerged as the second biggest hit of our banner and I have received compliments even from top critics in Bombay. Shonali is a nice girl but she should really stick to acting – that is if she can even get a break. After the resent arrest she is lucky to be out on bail so hopefully she has learned a lesson and will not make any more negative comments about my films and my actors.

Natasha Rai got the biggest flak for Race. In fact rumor has it that she has sworn never to work with you again after the way you made her look in Race. Why didn’t you ask her to loose more weight before casting her opposite two pencil thin girls like Malini and Monisha?

Natasha is family to me and she could never be upset or refuse to work with me. I cast her as central protagonist in Race and would love to work with her, if a suitable script comes along. You’d be surprised to know that many people have complimented her work in Race. In fact some have called it her career best performance. There are bound to be some people who don't agree. I think it is unfair to compare her with someone like Monisha who is less than half her age. Natasha is extremely talented and our banner will always be associated with her. I might ask her to do a special appearance in MNIK for luck factor and then all these rumors will be put to rest.

When you want to sign an actor, you promise them the moon. But when it comes to delivering, you go back on your word. When your banner signed Kitty Khare, you had promised her a role in your future films. But you ignored her thereafter. No wonder she doesn’t want to work with you again and never even invited you to her wedding.

I never promised anything to anybody, including Kitty Khare. She’s a very talented actress and she knows that I cast according to the script, not because she or any other actor is a good friend. I don’t know what you mean by moon and stuff (laughs) but we are definitely keeping her in mind for a special role in our upcoming film Chenab Gandhi. As far as wedding invitation, this is usually a family affair and I can understand her wanting to make this a private occasion. I would do the same thing.

Chandramukhi, Saakshi and several other top T-girls based in Toronto have lambasted your effort to move Trollywood to Vancouver. One hears that you are moving to Vancouver and will shoot most of your films in the West Coast. Don’t you think Vollywood sounds odd?

This is news to me. Trollywood was and will always be based in Toronto. What could I possibly accomplish out of moving it to Vancouver? Yes it’s true that I am in the process of moving to Vancouver but that’s a personal move. Believe me, I have never suggested that these divas should move to Vancouver. And I agree, Vollywood does sound weird!