On KBC, you can win up to lakhs spending an hour with Amitabh. Producer Keshu Ramsay lost lakhs every day because he didn't get an hour from Amitabh.
Amitabh Bachchan in Family
Keshu and his son Aryeman, who makes a debut with Rajkumar Santoshi's Family, (starring Amitabh, Akshay Kumar and Bhumika Chawla) went through a lot of heartburn due to Amitabh's illness. Even after the actor went home, he didn't give them the one hour they needed to complete the film.
According to a source, the Ramsays are miffed at Bachchan's attitude. "He had time to dash off to Tirupati and to Goa, so what stopped him from completing the film? All we needed was an hour!" grumbles a technician involved with the film.
But with no date from Bachchan, and futile attempts to clean up the shoddy pilot tracks, sound designer Kiran Ramsay even contemplated roping in a dubbing artiste for some portions, to prevent the film getting delayed further.
Dubbing artist saves
Ramsays have been working days and nights at Q Lab, Andheri to enhance the quality of the soundtrack having Bachchan's dialogues.
A technician from the same studio informs, "Keshuji and Kiranji have been spending sleepless nights here with our sound engineers to clean up the unwanted sound waves from Bachchan's dialogues.
It was not a matter of joke as the problem was with five to six reels of the film where the sound quality of the dialogues was really poor.
Even after cleaning up the sound waves and re-directing each line that Bachchan had said on location using various machines it wasn't up to the mark. Keshuji was too hassled as the distributors and financers have been pressurising him to release the film this week any how."
Troubled times
Debutant Aryeman revealed that he was on the verge of getting into a state of depression over the issue and possibility of the film getting postponed for a second time.
Akshay Kumar and Aryeman Ramsay
"It's true that we needed some time from Amitji. I was almost sinking into a state of depression as 20 per cent of work was still left and dad had decided to release the film on January 13. But thankfully by using sync sound we have drawn a completion, the first copy is ready and we are going to Shirdi on Tuesday to pray for the film's success."
When quizzed about Bachchan's inability to dub the actor says, "Amitji is my godfather and I couldn't confide in him my growing anxiousness surrounding the release of my debut film as he is recuperating from his illness."
Although he refrained from talking about another individual dubbing for Bachchan, "These are too technical stuff and I'm not well-versed in it. You should ask my dad or uncle (Kiran Ramsay) who have been coping with the problem," he says.
Director Santoshi upset
Director Rajkumar Santoshi who is presently in Malaysia too remained tight-lipped about the ordeal. "We have cleaned up the pilot sound tracks and used it. I'm yet to see the first copy.
Once I see I'll be in a better position to say anything." A source explains, "Santoshiji is not yet vocal about it because of Akshay and Keshuji. He is quite unhappy about the state of affairs and feels that the film is incomplete in terms of shots too."
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