'Players' shooting halted: Abhishek, Bipasha enjoy impromptu break

Mumbai, July 22 (IANS) The cast of 'Players' couldn't have hoped for a better gift - a monsoon holiday, thanks to Abbas-Mustan who have not been able to select from music composer Pritam Chakraborty's tunes.

The two songs were supposed to be shot with the entire cast of Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Sonam Kapoor over the next two weeks.

'Yes, two songs have been delayed. The schedule of 'Players' was postponed. These are normal delays in any movie project,' said Bipasha.

While Abhishek is using the suddenly-vacated time-space to be with his wife Aishwarya Rai who is in the family way, Bipasha is spending time with her family in Kolkata.

Abbas-Mustan were very keen to complete the two songs on time. These songs were crucial because all the action sequences and the 'talkie' portions are done.

'During the past year or so Pritam has been insisting he can't cope with the workload. He has either dropped out voluntarily or has requested producers to employ other composers' services but has not been given that freedom. 'Players' is one of those projects that he has taken on because he couldn't say no to Abbas-Mustan. Not that he has failed to meet his deadline. There's no one to be blamed for this delay,' said a source.

Pritam's spokesperson said: 'Pritam has given the director Abbas-Mustan songs to choose from. His job is done. It's the makers who have not been able to select the songs to be filmed. After all the Abbas-Mustan/Pritam team are conscious that they've to equal what they did on 'Race'.'