Hema Malini-Ramesh Sippy’s Simla Mirch No Takers

It was meant to be filmmaker Ramesh ‘Sholay’ Sippy’s comeback film.Sippy, the formidable director of not only the historic Sholay but also , Andaz , Seeta Aur Geeta, Shan, Sagar and Shakti, had not directed a film for 20 years. His last directed film was the disastrous Zamana Deewana in 1995 featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Raveena Tandon.

Therefore when Sippy announced his directorial comeback, and that too starring his favourite actress Hema Malini who featured in Ramesh Sippy’s biggest blockbusters Andaz, Seeta Aur Geeta and Sholay, there was jubilation among movie lovers.

The new Ramesh Sippy film Shimla Mirch was bold and beautiful. It featured Hema as a woman in love with a much younger man, played by Rajkummar Rao.

But now the film has been complete for nearly a year with no sign of release.

Says a source close to the project, “The shooting was wrapped up in May 2015 on location in Shimla . Hemaji, Rajkummar and the Telugu star Rakul Preet Singh participated. But the film has evinced no curiosity in the market. It’s basically without any buyers.”

Sad to see a film that brings together so many talented artistes, languishing in the cans.