Dipaali Singh is happy with Short Kut's failure

Dipaali Singh who acted in Shortkut — The Con Is On is claiming that she has gotten a raw deal by the producer of the film, Anil Kapoor, co-producer Rajat Rawail and director Neeraj Vora. The model-turned actress says, "After my audition, Anil and Neeraj told me that I would be the second heroine in the film opposite Arshad while Amrita Rao would be the main one.

When I saw the film I was horrified. They said they would give me a credit as 'introducing Dipaali Singh' but my name appeared right at the end. And they even chopped my scenes from 15 to about five. Anil Kapoor has reduced me to a glorified extra! Now I understand why they refused to show me the film before release. They feared that I would create a controversy."

The actress says bitterly, "I didn't expect this from Anil. After the film was complete, they told me to be ready for the promotions. Forget taking me to an international awards event, as promised, they didn't even use my pictures on hoardings or use me in their promotional activities at all. I heard at the awards event Akshaye and Arshad had a huge fight which, I was amused to know, that they later denied!"

Dipaali's grouses don't end here. She avers, "I did my own make-up and had to pay for my own make-up artist. Amrita got the costliest of designers, and I had to make do with my own personal outfits. I didn't say a word as I thought I was getting a big break. I was to feature in the music video of the title track but I wasn't called for it."

Dipaali lashes out at Kapoor, "Anil was so busy promoting his own daughter (Sonam) at the awards event that he forgot there was someone his daughter's age (Dipaali) that he should have promoted too. I guess he got what he deserved when Aishwarya refused to allow Sonam walk the red carpet with her at Cannes. I am not a star's daughter. He has turned me into an extra. I am very happy that Short Kut has flopped. I have tried calling and texting co-producer Rajat Rawail and Neeraj but they haven't responded."

She continues angrily, "They made me sign a contract as guest appearance. When I objected, they said that this was just a formality but would be given the credit I wanted. I told them I don't have a trained voice, so I would pay and get a dubbing artiste to say my lines. They asked me to come and dub for experience. When I saw the film I realised they'd retained my own voice."

Director Neeraj Vora says, "I agree that Dipaali should have been a part of the promotions. I don't know why they left her out. But it's a call taken by the producer and distributor. I can only give creative support and I didn't have any say in it. But I don't think Dipaali's role has been cut much. I didn't have anything to do with the decision of leaving out Dipaali from the title track. It was a call taken by the producers and distributors."