By Hindustan Times
He’s already struck gold playing a don in films like Salman Khan’s Wanted (2009) and Ajay Devgn’s Singham (2011). That’s probably why the makers of Sher, starring Sanjay Dutt, considered signing on south star Prakash Raj to play a “pivotal” role of their movie.
But now, just as director Soham Shah has started filming, Prakash has apparently walked out of the project.
Soham Shah and producer Hiren Gandhi of Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision had apparently visited Prakash in Bangkok last month, and the tale they narrated featured him in a strong, elaborate role. But once shooting began, the actor felt shortchanged.
He realised that his role had undergone a large number of changes, and have been made significantly smaller. And if industry insiders are to be believed, Sanjay, who also plays a don in Sher, could be a explanation for it.
“Prakashji wasn’t proud of the way in which his role was turning out,” says an insider from the production house. “Since Sher could be very on the subject of Sanjay sir, he’s been involved in any respect levels. He was also the rationale behind Prakashji’s role undergoing a last-minute transformation.”
Also, our source reveals that soon after Prakash walked out of the film, he called up one in all his filmmaker friends who recently worked with Dutt in a box office dud. “Prakashji was very upset with the best way things worked out,” says the insider. Prakash, who's in Singapore on the moment, admits, “It’s true that i'm not doing Sher.”
But ask him in regards to the rumours that he walked out of the film on account of changes made to his role, and he thunders, “Nothing like that. If I'VE said that i'm not doing the film, I don’t wish to give some other details.”
When we contacted Dutt in Jaipur, that is what he needed to say: “I do not know what’s happening. And who am I to interfere within the script? I refuse to belive that Prakash can discuss this.”
While rumours are rife that the makers have decided to eliminate the role now that their actor has walked out of the film, sources reveal that Paresh Rawal has replaced Prakash.
But a spokesperson for Shree Ashtavinayak denies that Prakash was signed for the role, “We were keen to enroll Prakash Raj and, in fact, had met his manager too. But since he's busy along with his South Indian films, he couldn’t give us the majority dates we required. That’s why we couldn’t work with him, though we are hoping so as to within the future.”
