The response to our article ‘Shame On…. Whom?!?’ dated November 3 has been overwhelming. Trade people have reacted in different ways to the piece on how The Ladykiller, an incomplete film, made it to the cinemas on November 3. So let’s delve a little deeper and try to analyse where the blame actually lies. For, it is not right to accuse only producer Shailesh Singh.
Frankly, some more details have come to light, which are very relevant to decide who should be shamed.
The film was planned as a Rs. 30-crore project. Shailesh Singh put the project together, Bhushan Kumar (Super Cassettes) backed it, sold the digital and satellite rights of the film, and paid Shailesh Singh the budgeted amount on various dates so that the film could be completed in the apportioned and planned 30-35 days. However, the film’s director, Ajay Bahl, shot for around 60-65 days (including the double shifts) outdoors and yet came back to Bombay with an unfinished film. Besides, he had spent the entire Rs. 28-30 crore on the film which, according to him, was around 75-80% complete after the long schedule. He told the producers, he needed to shoot for around 15-20 days more to complete the film. He also said, he needed more money. That’s when Bhushan Kumar said, he couldn’t pay anything more than the committed amount. If he were to pay more for the shooting, Bhushan Kumar’s calculations would’ve gone haywire because he must’ve sold the digital and satellite rights with a budget of Rs. 30 crore in mind. Even if one were to consider that an additional amount of Rs. 10 crore was needed to complete the film AND pay the balance remuneration of Arjun Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar and the other cast and crew members, it would mean that the film would’ve been 33% over-budget. And to imagine that there would be a profit margin of 33% in this film would be far removed to reality. That means, Bhushan Kumar could foresee a loss in the film which was a profit-making venture on paper when it was started. And just why? Because of the over-indulgence of the director. Maybe, also because of the lack of proper planning by the producers.
According to sources, Shailesh Singh was so passionate about the film and had so much faith in it that he arranged for Rs. 3-4 crore from other sources so that his director could complete the film. But the same sources say that Bahl pleaded inability to complete the film with the limited additional funds and the days apportioned (four to five). In fact, Ajay Bahl declined to complete the film in the amount arranged for by his producer and with just 4-5 days’ shooting, if sources are to be believed.
Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar have a disaster to their (dis)credit for absolutely no fault of theirs because the stars and crew members were not responsible for the over-indulgence of the director and the lack of planning by the producers and presenter. Obviously, the producers, presenter and director did not see eye to eye on the point of completion of the film. And so what should never have happened, happened. It is said, when everyone is responsible, no one is responsible. This case proves that totally. Bahl must’ve thought, if I don’t have the required funds and requisite dates, why should I take the tension of completing the film? Shailesh Singh must’ve tried his best to convince Bhushan Kumar (for extra funds) on the one hand and director Ajay Bahl (to shoot the balance portions economically as he had gone grossly over-budget and shot for far more number of days than planned and yet not completed the film) on the other, but when none of them agreed to budge from their stand, he must’ve felt helpless as he could not have completed (shot the balance portions of) the film. Bhushan Kumar must’ve convinced himself that since he was not flouting the contract, he wasn’t wrong.
And so the joint responsibility of the three of them to deliver a completed film to the audience, to the OTT platform (Netflix) as well as to the satellite TV channel (Sony) went out of the window. An unreleased film was released as nobody bothered to take the onus.
Yesterday, passion died. But nobody cried? We all should’ve!