Shekhar Kapoor To Make  Paani With Hollywood Actors

Shekhar Kapoor’s dream project Paani, which was shelved by YashRaj films, has now moved West. The director who has helmed some extraordinary films in the West including the Oscar-winning Elizabethis all set  to do Paani in the West with two topnotch Hollywood actors in the lead.

Says Shekhar, “It is true I am no longer doing the film with Adi(producer Aditya Chopra). But that doesn’t mean I won’t be doing this film. I’ve lived with the project for many years now. When I  first spoke about the impending water scarcity  12 years ago everybody laughed at me. Today the water famine is a looming reality,” saysShekhar pensively, and then chuckles, “I do hope I am able to makePaani before water becomes a rationed commodity. If I make it then no one would be able to afford cinema tickets.”

So what happened to the collaboration with Aditya Chopra and YashRaj Films?

Shekhar, never known to weight his words, is understandably circumvent in answering this one question that is on everybody’s mind.

He finally says, “See, you have to understand Adi is not only a producer. He is also a very accomplished filmmaker with extremely independent ideas on cinema.Adi and I are both fiercely individualistic filmmakers.We just couldn’t agree on the way Paanishould be made.”

What Shekhar leaves unsaid is that the budget which Shekharrequired to make Paani did not suit Yashraj and Aditya Chopra.

Poor Sushant Singh Rajput lost close to two years of his career preparing for Paani.

Says Shekhar regretfully, “We spent close to two years planning the project together. But it wasn’t meant to be. Not with Adi. I’ll now make Paani elsewhere.”