Can he insult Ranbir like that

By Subhash K Jha

Upen Patel seems to have pissed off first-time director Ashwin Dheer rather seriously. After earlier run-ins, the incidents at the music launch of the comedy 123 on Wednesday evening left a lot of people open-mouthed, specially Upen Patel.

At the music launch the director made it a point to single out every actor in the cast from Suniel Shetty to Tusshar Kapoor and invited each one on stage.

But not Upen!

Said Upen, "What can I say? I was shell-shocked and humiliated. I don't know why I should be treated this way.

Maybe because I'm an outsider in Bollywood. Would Ashwin dare to behave this way with Ranbir Kapoor or Neil Mathur? He shouldn't forget he's a first-timer too just like I was two years back.

I realize I'm a loner and therefore open to all kinds of attacks. I'm prepared for all kinds of ridicule. But not being acknowledged as part of a film that I've done, is a bit too much."

Upen isn't sure why he was singled by Ashwin Dheer for such rude behaviour.

"Of course we had our differences of opinion during 123. And the world knows about it. Aren't conflict during shooting normal? Why must they be taken on a public platform?"

Upen says many people from the cast secretly told him that the director had behaved badly.

"But it's okay. I've a just a guest appearance in 123. I do feel hurt that my song was cut out from the film and that I got to know about this only when I saw the final cut. I was shocked.

When I asked about it I was told it was because of the length and that my portion of the song would be kept in the promos. But I'm nowhere in the promos. But it's okay. I don't regret doing 123.

Now I've another comedy Money Hai To Honey Hai to look forward to. There I got a long like a house on fire with the entire cast. Govinda and Manoj Bajpai were like gurus.

And my director Ganesh Acharya will surely call me on stage at the music launch."

Upen's laughter rings loud and clear.