Ash-Abhishek not a gimmick: J P Dutta

Responding to reports that the Abhishek-Aishwarya link-up is part of a well-thought-out strategy to keep his eagerly anticipated Umrao Jaan in
the news, the film's director J P Dutta says, "When have I ever bothered with marketing my films? Do you know when my first film, Ghulami, was released, there was just one hoarding in all of Mumbai? I don't think publicity itself helps a film. Border had opened half-heartedly, but it went on to become the biggest hit of my career so far. It's all destiny."

Invisible force

Dutta is currently shooting 40 miles from Lucknow, in a place called Mehmoodabad.

"I needed a special palace to shoot these crucial scenes between my bachcha (Abhishek) and Ash. I think we've canned scenes that have given me great satisfaction. I don't even know how Umrao Jaan is making itself out. It's gone out of hand. There's some invisible force guiding me.

You know, when I started shooting, I had neither Abhishek's nor Ash's complete dates. Ash wondered how I'd do it. But look at how the schedules work themselves out. What is it, if not destiny?"

Marketing savvy

Stopping to ponder, the director says, "Abhishek keeps telling me I need to get market-savvy with this film. But I wouldn't know where to start. All I've done is made the film exactly the way I wanted. I could've livened up LOC with fictional embellishments. But I had to be true to the story of the soldiers. I couldn't lie. Neither can I fool around with Umrao Jaan's story."