Ash will not play Santoshi's Samyukta
Nov 28, 2005 Courtesy: Mid-Day Director Rajkumar Santoshi talks to hitList about making up with Sunny Deol and his film on Prithviraj-Samyukta… You had differences with Keshu Ramsay in Insaan; then how did Family (produced by Keshu and AB Corp) happen?
We did have some differences, but they were minor ones. We sorted them out. We were very keen that after Khakee, we need to do another good one with Mr Bachchan. Did Keshu Ramsay force you to cast his son in Family?
No. In fact, I clearly told Ramsay that I am not going to make Family keeping Aryeman in mind; this should not be considered his launch vehicle, as I will not be able to focus on his bol-chaal. I have no heroine opposite him either.
Aryeman is simply a character in the film. Ramsay was game, and I found that Aryeman suited the role. That's why I cast him.
Did Keshu interfere later, to force you to increase Aryeman's footage?
Not at all. Once I start the film, nobody tells me what to do. What is Family about?
Family is the story of two families and two men — Viren Sahi (Bachchan) and Shekhar Bhatia (Akshay) — two worlds totally different from each other, which collide, with catastrophic consequences. What's happening to your Prithviraj Chauhan-Samyukta film?
I have finished the screenplay and we are sitting on the budgeting. I am going ahead with it, but not with Aishwarya Rai. I realised that the love story had a swayamvar scene and Aishwarya does not fit the mould of an eager, 16-year-old bride in a swayamvar. I am now thinking of casting a completely new girl in the film, and the hunt is on.
Plus, Ash is doing a lot of period films — Umrao Jaan, Akbar-Jodha, Rani Laxmibai. Doing so many period films may prove monotonous for her. But isn't Ash doing your Saamna, with Ajay Devgan, Nana Patekar and Akshay Kumar?
I don't think so. There again, I am looking for someone else. The fact that Family got delayed, pushed back my next-in-line, Saamna. Ash is apparently not free on the dates I now want. We have spoken to her about it; let's see what happens. Sunny Deol is also making a film on Prithviraj-Samyukta.
Are we heading for another clash, like the two Bhagat Singh films?
(Smiles) Ab kya karein? Let's see. Who knows, only one of these may get made. Are you and Sunny still at loggerheads?
No. We have resolved our differences, and talk whenever we meet. In fact, I am planning to make a film with Sunny. But the crack is still there?
Time is the biggest healer. Sab theek ho jayega. What's happening to your film with Ekta Kapoor?
That's not happening for now, at least. I got too busy with Ranveer, for more than a year at least. Balaji wanted to begin during that time. | 
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