Javed Akhtar Blasts Shekhar Kapur over Mr.India 2

A few days back, filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar had taken to his twitter handle to share the big news of the much-awaited remake of the classic film Mr.India. 

“Excited to partner with @ZeeStudios_for an epic trilogy #MrIndia! It is a huge responsibility to carry forward an iconic character loved by everyone. Currently, working on the script, no actor has been locked till now. Once we lock the first draft of the script, casting begins!” he had shared.

There were even rumours of Ranveer Singh and Shah Rukh Khan teaming up for Mr.India 2.While the former was said to step into the shoes of Anil Kapoor and head the titular role of Mr.India, Khan had been approached to play the antagonist Mogambo, played by Amrish Puri in the original film. However, no confirmation had been made of the same.

Soon after the announcement, director Shekhar Kapur, who helmed the original Anil Kapoor and Sridevi starrer, expressed his displeasure over the remake. He also stated that no one asked him for his permission.

“No one has even asked me or mentioned to me about this film called Mr India 2.  I can only guess that they using the title to get a big weekend. For they cannot use the characters/story without  permission from the original creators of the film” Shehkhar had tweeted.

And now, Javed Akhtar has lashed out at Shekhar for his reaction about the Mr.India remake. 

“Today Shekhar Kapur is offended because no one has consulted him about this new project. Why should they? They may or may not be morally bound to inform the people involved with the original film. But they are not legally bound to do so. And where was his sense of creative outrage when he had disregarded the bound script of Mr India that we had given to producer Boney Kapoor and Shekhar? Shekhar chose to do his own thing back then. Today when other people are doing the same he is upset.”

- Javed Akhtar told Bollywood Hungama.

On taking the characters of Mr.India forward, Javed Akhtar says, “I can’t say what they’ve in mind. They haven’t approached me or asked for my opinion. Until I know what they plan to do with the characters I can’t comment on it.”

Speaking of making the remake without Amrish Puri and Sridevi Javed Ji stated, “That’s not so impossible. Every James Bond film has its own heroine and villain. Like I said it all depends on what they do with the characters.”