'Ash versus Salman? Eid was never an option': Vipul Shah

By Hindustan Times

Mumbai, July 25 -- For a few months, till Vipul Shah announced November 5 as D-Day, the grapevine had been buzzing about Action Replayy lining up for an Eid opening. And setting up a moonstruck clash between Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Salman Khan, whose Dabanng had also zeroed in on September 10.

However, the producer-director denies this, "Ash versus Salman? Eid was never an option. We had earlier locked on July 23 but the post-production is taking longer than expected because the film has a lot of special effects. So another Akshay Kumar starrer, Khatta Meetha, opened last Friday," says Shah. "Diwali is a good time for our fun film."

But the new date has put him on a collision course with another 'fun film', Golmaal 3. Shah argues that over the last five years, there have been two biggies coming every Diwali.

He says, "Last year we had three, All The Best, Blue and Main Aurr Mrs Khanna. There's enough business in the festival week for a good film. Golmaal 3 is a much-awaited film with a terrific cast but even Action Replayy has Akshay and Ash."

New day

Remind him about Raavan, and he reasons, "Ash is not a one-film wonder. She's one of the few actress with a following abroad. Besides, every Friday is a new day."

Action Replayy goes back to the swinging '70s, so does Ekta Kapoor's don drama Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai that releases this Friday. Shah insists that he's not following any retro trend: "My film is based on a 1994 Gujarati play by the same name. The '70s was a colourful decade and the look of both films is eye-catching. I'm looking forward to seeing Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai. I never miss an Ajay Devgn film." Oh John!

Meanwhile, Vipul Shah has bought the Hindi remake rights of Gautham Menon's 2003 film, Kakka Kakka, from Feroz Khan who had planned to make it with son Fardeen. Ajay Devgn was keen to act and produce it. Sunny Deol and Salman Khan had also been approached for the cop story for which John Abraham is now beefing up. Buzz is that he is even ready to produce the film. Shah reacts to the rumour with a surprised, "John wants to produce it?" Is he? "Why should I answer that question? Let the rumours grow, they are good publicity for my film."

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