Ameesha throws Ankahee tantrum

By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Ameesha Patel seems pretty upset with the publicity of Pritish Nandy Communications' (PNC) next release, Ankahee.

Directed by her boyfriend, Vikram Bhatt, the film stars Aftab Shivdasani and is said to be based on the turbulent relationship between Bhatt and ex-flame, Sushmita Sen - a fact that disturbs Ameesha, as she feels PNC is concentrating their marketing and music promos around Aftab's co-star, Esha Deol.

Rangita's pal: Esha

According to an insider, "Ameesha feels that as she is a senior artiste, it was unfair to promote Esha more and leave Ameesha out of the publicity completely."

Adds a PNC source, "When the music promos started coming out, Vikram went to the PNC office and asked Pritish and Rangita (creative director, PNC) why Ameesha was missing from them. Like Ameesha, even Aftab was beginning to feel insecure about the spotlight being only on Esha.

Vikram, Ameesha and Aftab felt that Esha's closeness to Rangita made PNC project Esha as the face of the film, and this upset them."

Matters came to a head a couple of weeks ago, when PNC wanted their three stars to come together for a music video, Tumhe hyun milenge, and called Ameesha for dates.

Says the source, "Rikku (Ameesha's secretary) told Rangita to brief Ameesha about the concept. When Rangita called, the actress told her firmly that she wouldn't shoot for the album till PNC gave in writing that she would get equal footage as Esha.

Rangita told her that she would have to do it on trust, and refused to draw up the contract. Eventually, Ameesha shot for the video, and later messaged Pritish that she had loved it."

When questioned about Ameesha's tantrum, Pritish says, "I don't see it as a tantrum, but as an artiste expressing her concern at being wronged or unfairly treated."

Is the film based on Vikram and Sushmita's life? "It is portions of fiction and non-fiction. It is a reality film based on certain well-known aspects in the director's life. Like all reality-based cinema, Ankahee, too, has been merged with a fictional perspective, to create a story that works on the big screen."

'We didn't interfere'

What about Ameesha and Aftab's insecurity? "In any film, it is not always possible to give equal presence to all the lead characters, and as a result, many people are accused of hogging a larger screen presence. Ankahee is a director's film, and it is his prerogative to give as much footage as he wants to his actors. We have never interfered with that."

Says Rangita, "My job at PNC is to ensure that we make a great film. I work with talent, not with tantrums. We have a release on hand and that's the only thing I want to talk about.

The video's on air since yesterday, and it's stunning. Everybody in it rocks! Who cares what happened during the making? I just hope people catch it and love it."

Ameesha was unavailable for comment.