Good script matters, not star fees - Nikhil Panchamiya

Producer Nikhil Panchammiya, who in the past has made films like Dil Maange More and Anthohy Kaun Hai, is going prolific this year. While two of his productions are already on floors, he plans to bring his third film on floors before the year comes to a close. Now that must be keeping him really busy considering he is an independent producer.

"Yes, I am busy but then who is complaining", quips Nikhil who has also been the Executive Producer for films like Chal Mere Bhai, Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega and Rudraksh. "I have waited for this moment and now that Tum Milo To Sahi and Mastang Mama are on floors, I already am looking forward to get my third filmrolling soon," adds Nikhil.

Tum Milo To Sahi is a multistarrer comprising of actors ranging from seniors like Nana Patekar, Dimple Kapadia and Suneil Shetty to relatively new entrants like Vidya Malvade, Rehan Khan and Anjana Sukhani. Incidentally composer/singer Raghav Sachar, too, makes his debut as an actor in a guest appearance role which sees him playing himself.

"The shooting for the film has been on for close to one month and we plan to bring it to theaters around the month of November", informs Nikhil, "Mastang Mama, too, is close to 80% complete and I am quite happy with its progress so far. Yes, it does become hectic to keep hopping from one location to another due to both the films being on the shoot simultaneously but I am enjoying every bit of it."

Mastang Mama stars Ruslaan Mumtaz in the lead along with Kulraaj Randhawa, child artist Tanay Chheda (of Taare Zameen Par fame) and Gulshan Grover. The film is directed by debutant Vikram Singh who has also written the story and screenplay of the film.

"Once the shooting of these two films is complete, I would get started with my third film somewhere around October. I am already in the process of signing people and should be revealing the star cast soon", says Nikhil.

Is he also in a hurry to get the cast of the film in place since it would be good to 'catch them early' before their price skyrockets, as has been the case with so many other stars?

Says Nikhil after a hearty laugh, "I promote good films and good actors. At the end of the day good script matters and not star fees. I am in no mood to pay astronomical fees to my actors just because they seem to be in scarcity. When an actor agrees to my film, he/she knows quite well that it is the script which would have the project rolling. Nothing else matters!"

-Joginder Tuteja