Top 10 filmmakers out of job!

Produced: 17 films

Notable films being: Nagin (1976) - SuperHit ,Jaani Dushman (1979) - SuperHit, Raj Tilak (1984) - Hit,Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani (2002) - Flop

Film career: Rajkumar Kohli loved to use ensemble cast. His last multi-starer was Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani in which he relaunched his son Armaan Kohli. It was a big disaster and was panned by the critics for being one of the worst films ever made. He had to sell some his property to pay back the money he had taken from his financers.

Today Kohli has approached many stars those have acted with him before but cannot sign anyone because of the price they quote. He says, "I made the biggest multi-starers even before the trend started in the industry. I got excellent cooperation from my actors and my unit members. I used to narrate the script to the actors and only after their approval I used to start my film. Now producers face problem even in a two-hero project. I have stopped making such films because I use my own money for my films and if it flops I won't be able to recover it."

2-Salim Akhtar

Produced 18 films

Notable films being: Batwara was the biggest multi-starrer, which had Dharmendra, Vinod Khanma, Mohsin Kan, Dimple Kapadia, Amrita Singh, Poonam Dhillon, Shammi Kapoor, Asha Parekh and Amrish Puri.

Result: Hit

Salim says, "Forget making a film with a multi-star cast. Looking at the current scenario, it is impossible to sign a single hero. They charge a bomb. It was much easier to make such films before. But I still want to make one more film with all the three Khans - Salman, Shah Rukh and Aamir provided they are ready to work with me."

3-Mushir-Riaz

Produced 11 films

Notable films being: Shakti (1982) - Hit. Rajput(1982) - Hit,Akela (1991) - Flop

Mushir says, "Everything has changed after the invasion of the corporate houses. It is impossible for producers like us to make a multi-starrer when corporate houses are signing them for unheard figures. Unlike the corporate houses, we invest our own money. We still have our office at Khar and have not stopped making films. We will again make a film if we get a good proposal."

4-Farooq Nadiawala

Notable films being: Ghulami (1985) - Hit, Hathyaar(1989) - Flop

Farooq says, "I loved making multi-starrers. I don't want to talk about the current scenario since I have left filmmaking long time ago."

5-J P Dutta

Produced 4 films

Border (1987) - Hit, Refugee (2000) - Flop, LOC: Kargil (2003) - Flop, Umrao Jaan (2006) - Flop

Dutta says, "I would love to make a multi-starrer provided I get a little cooperation from the actors."

6-K C Bokadia

Produced: 18 films

Notable films being: Police Aur Mujrim (1992) - Hit,Aaj Ka Arjun (1990) - Hit,Laal Badshah (1999) - Flop

His last film Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam (2002) had Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Atul Agnihotri, Suman Ranganathan, Aishwarya Rai, Alok Nath and Aruna Irani.

Bokadia lost all his money in producing Aap Mere Hai Sanam, starring Govinda and Priyanka Chopra. Now his son has joined K Sera Sera Productions which has bought the rights from Bokadia. The film will release soon.

Bokadia says, "It is very difficult to approach the so-called stars these days, leave alone making a multi-starrer. I had big problem selling my film starring Govinda."

7-Manoj Kumar

Produced: 8 films

Notable films being: One of the blockbusters of all times, Purab Aur Pashchim (1970) - Superhit,Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974) - Superhit,Kranti (1981) .

Most of his productions were superhits. But when Manoj Kumar made Clerk (1989), the juggernaut came to a screeching halt. Clerk was filed away as forgettable due to miscasting, Rekha and Manoj as college students.

Manoj Kumar's last film was Jai Hind in 1999. He introduced his son Kunal Goswami and had Rishi Kapoor and Raveena Tandon in it. The film was a big disaster. He had to close his production house.

Manoj Kumar says, "Do you think the big stars will work with us? These days the so-called stars are making fun of us. And after the corporate houses invading our film industry it is very impossible. Those were days when films were made with big star cast. Films were made and also sold. There were buyers. All the people connected to the film would benefit."

8- Prakash Mehra

Produced 23 films

Zanjeer (1973) - Superhit, Haath Ki Safai (1974) -Superhit, Hera Pheri (1976) -Hit, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Namak Halaal (1982) - Superhit (1978) -Superhit

Mehra was regarded as the godfather that Amitabh Bachchan had been looking for after Zanjeer. His last film was Bal Brahmachari in 1996, where he introduced veteran actor Raaj Kumar's son Puru Raajkumar with Karisma Kapoor. It was a flop.

Prakash Mehra has now retired. Mehra is not keeping well these days. According to industry insiders Mehra's career boomed because of Amitabh and he lost everything because of the same man. Mehra's Jaadugar was a big disaster because in Manmohan Desai's Toofan, Bachchan played a similar role, keeping Mehra in the dark. Both the films were being made almost at the same time. Bachchan came to Mehra's home once after Jaadugar. Mehra had a script and wanted to work with him again. Bachchan sat for more than two hours listening to the script, but refused.

Mehra says, "Earlier, films were made keeping in mind the best starcast and audience loved it. Stars were approachable and their fees were reasonable. It is futile approaching ther stars after someone like Amitabh refused to do my film."

9-Rajiv Rai

Directed: 7 films

Notable films being: Tridev (1989) -Superhit,Vishwatma (1992) -Superhit,Mohra (1994) - Superhit,Gupt (1997) - Superhit

Rajiv Rai made his debut as a director with Yudh (1985), which was hit. He than went on to delivered several blockbusters like Tridev, Vishwatma, Mohra and Gupt. His music was the highlight of al his films. In 1997, he had to leave India with his family for the United Kingdom after a failed attempt to kill him by hitmen believed to be working for Abu Salem. After a few years, he returned to directing with his comeback ventures Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat and Asambhav, both of which failed at the box office.

His last film Asambhav in 2004 was a disaster at the box office. At present he is planning to start another project.

Rajiv, who is in London was unavailable for comments.

10-Deepak Bahry

Produced 16 films

Notable films being: Hum Se Badhkar Kaun (1981) -Hit,Hum Se Hai Zamana (1983) - Hit,Humse Na Takrana (1990) -Hit

His last film Parwana in 2003, had Ajay Devgan and Amisha Patel in leading roles. It turned out to be a big disaster.

Unfortunately most of the big stars have excused themselves from working with him citing date problems.

Deepak says, "I approached a few stars but it is impossible for me to pay them the price they are quoting. Even if I do, I won't be able to recover the money invested."