Ram Gopal Varma’s dream of remaking the all-time blockbuster, Sholay, has run into trouble once again. RGV planned the project, Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay, more than a year back and the initial hitch came with the original film’s maker Ramesh Sippy objecting to the idea. When the dust on that settled, the casting created issues. While the original Jai, Amitabh Bachchan, was the first choice to play the new Gabbar Singh, the casting of Veeru went through major choices — with first choice Abhishek Bachchan and then Saif Ali Khan opting out of the project. Even the casting of Jaya Bachchan’s character, Radha, has seen a change with the recent replacement of Katrina Kaif by Sushmita Sen.

With the casting having fallen into place at last with the pulling in of actors like Ajay Devgan, Mammooty, Sushant Singh and Urmila Matondkar, and the look of the new Gabbar revealed and even the commencement of shooting, the latest development is that now the grandson of the producer of the Bollywood classic, G.P. Sippy has filed a case against The Factory in a bid to stall the film.

Sascha Sippy has alleged that RGV has talked with Ramesh Sippy the director, while he should have sought the permission of the producer G.P. Sippy. When we got in touch with The Factory, a source closely associated with RGV, on the assurance of anonymity, had this to say: “Even I have come to know of the case from TV channels. But as of now we haven’t received any legal notification as such.”

When trying to get in touch with Ramesh Sippy it was his wife Kiran Joneja who picked up the phone saying he was busy in a meeting. When asked about the issue, she didn’t commit anything and feigned ignorance. She also refused to say anything on whether there is a rift in the family with one of them giving the go-ahead while the other who woke up now has filed a case. Later again, nobody took the call to Ramesh Sippy.

G.P. Sippy’s office, too, didn’t come clear on the issue. “We will talk in court. Can’t comment now as it has got legal ramifications,” was all that was said, with a refusal to say anything on why they waited so long to file the case. Looking at the new turn of events, it seems Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay appears to be jinxed.

Now whether Ramu succeeds in withstanding all kinds of storms to complete his dream project remains to be seen.

EXTRA FREE

The end of RGV SHOLAY dreams? The Delhi High Court on October 5 granted ‘ad interim’ to Sippy Films Pvt. Ltd., the producers of Sholay, and Sholay Media and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, restraining K. Sera Sera, Ram Gopal Varma and his agents from manufacturing, selling, distributing, advertising or using the Sholay, Gabbar and Gabbar Singh trademarks and other deceptively similar marks till further orders. Notices have been sent to P.M. Sanghvi, Managing Director, K Sera Sera; Ram Gopal Varma; Madhu Varma; Ram Gopal Productions; Varma Corporation; and Ajit Sippy, son of producer G.P. Sippy, who had struck a deal with RGV. The notice is returnable on November 20.