Kamal Haasan:  “Yes, I Am Directing Shabaash Naidu”

The much talked-about Tamil-Telugu- Hindi  tri-lingual Shabaash Naidu(Shabaash Kundu in Hindi) featuring Kamal Haasan and his daughter Shruti Haasan together for the first time which is being shot in the US, has run  into a rough spot with its director Rajeev Kumar  fallen ill.

Reports earlier this week suggested that Kamal Haasan had taken over the direction  of one song sequence whileRajeev recovered.

However Kaaml Haasan now confirms that he has taken over the direction of the entire film.

Says Kamal, “My director has taken ill. Extremely I’ll. The unfortunate setback occurred when we were on thefourth day of our recce in LA. It is diagnosed as Lyme disease. A rare infection prevalent in Europe and North America. I am now directing the film.”

Kamal Haasan is no stranger to direction. He has brilliantly helmed films as diverse in theme and epic in vision as Hey Ram and Chachi 420. In fact the character that  Kamal plays in Shabaash Naidu is from Dashavtharam, the film that the astounding actor-director directed in 2008.

Kamal comments with a poker face, “Yes, I have done it before.This time  I moved in as a standby director hoping my friend will recover . It seems he will.But not in time to finish this film which is tightly scheduled to end principle shooting by July-end or  the first week of August.”

Rajeev is getting the best possible medical care in LA.

Comments Kamal concernedly. “We have put him in one of the best hospitals with one of our executives keeping vigil 24/7. Our large  get-well card signed by the whole unit also stands beside him.”

Right now the entire focus is on getting Rajeev Kumar back on his feet.

Recalls Kamal Haasan affectionately, “Rajeev started his career as a director with me in the lead nearly 25 years back. I am sure when he is up and about he will have many more movies to direct. He has already done 25 films in his career.He will do 25 more and I’ll be in at least 10 of them.”