May 17, 2017
National Award-winning film editor and
screen-writer Apurva Asrani is unhappy with actress Kangana Ranaut for
apparently claiming that she has co-written the script of the upcoming
film "Simran".
Besides starring in the Hansal Mehta directorial, Kangana Ranaut has
been credited as "additional dialogue and story" writer in the film's
poster.
In a lengthy post on Facebook on Wednesday, Asrani said it was
"demeaning for any writer's name to be pushed after an additional
writing credit".
He said he was not offended by the credits, rather feels "betrayed" by
Kangana.
"Ranaut has been claiming in several interviews that Hansal Mehta, the
director of ‘Simran', approached her with just a one line screenplay of
the film. She says the story was dark and gritty thriller at that stage
and that she herself developed it into a light, fun film," Asrani wrote.
"This completely discredits me and my efforts, and I have to call out
this lie at the cost of so many of her fans turning against me. Those
that know me will know that I have always strived for the truth and
that is more important to me than a hit film," he added.
Asrani shared that Mehta sent him a news article of a woman in the US
who crossed the line of the law.
"I loved it and thought it would make a great film. But I didn't want
to do a serious film after ‘Aligarh'. As gratifying as the experience
of making ‘Aligarh' was, it churned my insides out and left me
emotionally drained. I saw 'Simran' as an opportunity to have some fun.
This was two years ago," Asrani said.
Asrani said that both Kangana and Hansal gave him valuable inputs while
he incorporated some and rejected the others.
"They were always happy with the outcome... At no point (during nine
drafts and one and a half year) was there any talk or communication
that Kangana didn't like the tone or direction of the script. In fact
she used to jump with glee when I finished my narrations," Asrani said.
Asrani said that things got bitter the day after he "finished the first
cut of the film" and Mehta informed him "nervously that Kangana is
turning director and therefore has demanded a co-writer credit".
"I naturally had a shit fit and feeling shocked and betrayed. I refused
to give in... I finally gave into an additional writing credit, but
only because they claimed their film would be stuck if I didn't do so.
But I refused to give her a co-writer credit, and we signed a letter
where they promised me the same," he added.
Asrani says he can't understand "why Kangana would snatch the hard
earned work of a writer".
"I wish she had been graceful about this and acknowledged what I
brought to this film. I also wish that my dear friend Hansal shows some
spine and either refutes or endorses my story," he said.
"Simran" is slated to release on September 15.