Mumbai:
Despite winning the Best Picture trophy at a recent awards function, Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara seems to have fuelled a disagreement between filmmakers Sanjay Gupta and Kunal Kohli.
Sanjay claims that Kunal arm-twisted the jury that was all set to disqualify ZNMD from the list.
He said, "One day before the awards, the entire jury was having a discussion over which film should win Best Picture. When I walked in, I strongly opposed giving the award to the film. Not just because I knew it strongly resembles the 1985 film Fandango, but also because The Dirty Picture according to me was a much deserving film. Also, when Shekhar Kapur saw how similar Fandango and ZNMD looked, he put his foot down and said that the film should be out of the race. Even other jury members like John Mathew Mathan, Bhanu Athaiya and Pradeep Sarkar agreed. However, post this discussion, one jury member made calls to the rest and tried to influence their decision."
The filmmaker said, "Shekhar even suggested that ZNMD can be given a special jury mention, and The Dirty Picture could be given the award, but even that wasn't accepted."
Kunal Kohli reacted to Gupta's statement by saying, "Sanjay Gupta can say whatever he wants, but what happens within the jury will stay there. It shouldn't be spoken about in public. I am just one member and I don't know how it is possible for me to influence everyone. They all have their own opinions."
He also hinted at the fact that Sanjay may have a personal interest in The Dirty Picture, since the latter's next is being produced by Balaji Telefilms. He said, "By the way, who is producing Sanjay Gupta's next film?"
Shekhar Kapur, the chairman of the jury added, "When we sign on as jury members we have a confidentiality clause. I won't break that by speaking about what transpired between us."
However, sources said that Farhan and Zoya feel they have been dragged into a pointless argument between the two filmmakers.
A source added, "They did not accept the award because it was for Best Picture and not Best Pictures. They were not comfortable sharing the title."
Sanjay claims that Kunal arm-twisted the jury that was all set to disqualify ZNMD from the list.
He said, "One day before the awards, the entire jury was having a discussion over which film should win Best Picture. When I walked in, I strongly opposed giving the award to the film. Not just because I knew it strongly resembles the 1985 film Fandango, but also because The Dirty Picture according to me was a much deserving film. Also, when Shekhar Kapur saw how similar Fandango and ZNMD looked, he put his foot down and said that the film should be out of the race. Even other jury members like John Mathew Mathan, Bhanu Athaiya and Pradeep Sarkar agreed. However, post this discussion, one jury member made calls to the rest and tried to influence their decision."
The filmmaker said, "Shekhar even suggested that ZNMD can be given a special jury mention, and The Dirty Picture could be given the award, but even that wasn't accepted."
Kunal Kohli reacted to Gupta's statement by saying, "Sanjay Gupta can say whatever he wants, but what happens within the jury will stay there. It shouldn't be spoken about in public. I am just one member and I don't know how it is possible for me to influence everyone. They all have their own opinions."
He also hinted at the fact that Sanjay may have a personal interest in The Dirty Picture, since the latter's next is being produced by Balaji Telefilms. He said, "By the way, who is producing Sanjay Gupta's next film?"
Shekhar Kapur, the chairman of the jury added, "When we sign on as jury members we have a confidentiality clause. I won't break that by speaking about what transpired between us."
However, sources said that Farhan and Zoya feel they have been dragged into a pointless argument between the two filmmakers.
A source added, "They did not accept the award because it was for Best Picture and not Best Pictures. They were not comfortable sharing the title."
