Battle over 'Mehrunissa's female lead continues

Mumbai: Apparently a disagreement over who to cast as the female lead has cost UTV a film. Producer Nikhil Advani has gone ahead and collaborated with DAR Motion Pictures for co-producing Sudhir Mishra's magnum opus 'Mehrunissa' starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor. UTV was earlier supposed to produce this film.

Has there been a fallout between Nikhil and UTV? Our source says, "Though we don't know the real reason but there is definitely no fallout.

Nikhil is producing another film with them." The source however adds, "There was a divided opinion on who to cast as 'Mehrunnisa'. UTV was insisting to cast Katrina Kaif but Nikhil and Sudhir were not convinced. We wonder if that is the reason for Nikhil opting out and collaborating with other producer because he wanted more creative freedom." The source also says that the buzz about Sudhir's muse Chitrangada Singh playing the lead character is untrue.

The film marks a comeback of the legendary actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor together after 28 years. The source adds, "'Mehrunissa' is a much classier version of 'Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan' with the same humour but a lot of nawabi romance thrown into it."

Nikhil Advani, confirms, "'Mehrunissa' is very close to our hearts. Being one of the most interesting and challenging films coming out of our banner this year meant that it was essential that our partner's sensibilities, vision, values, etc.
were completely in sync with Sudhir and us. Our decision to partner with DAR was in this very spirit." But Nikhil chose to be silent when asked about why it didn't work out with UTV.

About the film

The epic love story, which was kept on the backburner for 15 years is set during the 1947 Partition. The film is about a girl who drives a wedge in the 50-year-old friendship between two friends essayed by Big B and Rishi Kapoor.

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