Showbiz toss-up: Rahul vs Ashutosh

Casting changes

Wasn't Ashutosh signed for the role now to be played by Rahul? "Originally, yes. When I was directing the film, I wanted Ashutosh to play the role of the media biggie. Now, with the change of director, the film has gone through some casting changes too, which I wouldn't be aware of."

Rahul, reinvented

Says Roy, "I can't reveal much, but have been told that I will be playing an incredibly powerful character in Showbiz, something that has been never seen before on screen."

Mahesh Bhatt, however, says nothing has been finalised. "As of now nobody is doing anything. Rahul came to me and said he wants us to give him another chance. I told him we would have to completely reinvent him, and he said he would do whatever we want. I can't comment on the casting of Showbiz. Once Raju Khan finalises the screenplay can we talk about it."

What made Rahul and the Bhatts part ways in the first place? Says Bhatt, "He couldn't handle failure and the fact that we didn't consider him in some of our projects.

Rahul was never a great actor, and on his own, didn't have any charisma. Aashiqui was packaged, structured and sold with the stars. I am not failure-phobic; I can analyse why a film went wrong and where. I am also brutal about performances. Rahul couldn't handle that."

But today, Rahul is determined to start on a fresh note. He has completed Rafta Rafta and TLV Prasad's Naughty Boy. "I am not competing with my contemporaries, but trying to gain a foothold. This huge industry had once given me a place… I am sure it will give me one again.

At every stage, you feel you have the right answers, and at that point, I felt I was not getting enough from them. Today, I am more mature and balanced and can handle things better. The awkwardness created years ago is water under the bridge now. I will do whatever they want with blind faith."