Lajmi's next to be a comedy

Chingaari has left her completely exhausted and drained. "I have never been harassed like this for any of my films before. From the producers, financers, distributors, and last but not the least, a particular actor," fumes director Kallpana Lajmi.

Though she is not the type who normally takes a break once a film is ready, after Chingari she feels the need to before she begins work on her two next projects —- Kab Aayega Mr Right and Devdasi.

Paid a heavy price

"Yes, this time I need to take time off. I have suffered so much because of my actors. It is because of Anuj Sawhney's immaturity, lies and misbehaviour; and Sushmita Sen's overreaction and stubbornness. Chingari was stalled because of this. The release was delayed by four months and I paid a very heavy price for it."

Speculating

When she feels she is back on track, Lajmi begins Kab Ayega Mr Right which will be a comedy. "It will take on stuff we are all hung up still like numerology, tarot card readings and clairvoyance. How we all are victims of such stuff no matter what your age is. I'm 50 and still into all this."

She feels Ameesha Patel is best suited for the film which will have a central character of a girl wondering when she will find her Mr Right. "In this journey, she seeks solace by consulting tarot card readers to fortune tellers."

The next film is titled Devdasi which will revolve around this old system in which young girls were married off to gods. "I will take a look as it is prevalent in Karnataka." Lajmi is exploring the possibility of having Rekha and Priyanka Chopra. Both the films has Patrick Biswas working with her on the scripts.

And for her reason to make woman-centric films she says, "It has something to do with being a woman director. Female directors end up making sensitive subjects instead of those male-oriented issues which celebrate masochism. They always portray the softer side of the yin and yang. Even though box-office demands a male hero.

The first question that I am always asked your hero is not a male! In that sense the gender bias still exists in Bollywood. Financiers want a big male hero to be part of the project." And till this bias against female directors is set right, the masochism will continue to rule Bollywood, she says.