'The police will give him a clean chit soon'

Sharmila Taliculam

The Chori Chori Chupke Chupke controversy brought with it something extremely shocking.

Bharat Shah's alleged involvement in the underworld and his subsequent arrest.

Bharatbhai, as he is referred to by everybody in the industry, financed 90 percent of the films being made in the film industry at one point of time.

Though that is not the case today, he still finances most of the major films. Like Mahesh Bhatt's Kasoor, Rajkumar Santoshi's Lajja, Sanjay Leela Bansali's Devdas, Rahul Gupta's Hum Panchi Ek Daal Ke, Rohit Kumar's Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage, K C Bokadia's Hum Aapke Hain Sanam and Bobby Kent's next film.

Bharatbhai's involvement in the underworld is not certain.

But a friend who is working closely with some filmmakers in the industry, smirked at the naivete shown that Bharatbhai financed all his films from the money he earned with his diamond trade business. Being a close industry watcher, he claimed that Bharatbhai might be taking money from the underworld.

So he is involved? Sources say that it might have been done out of fear.

But that is not the point here. The point is what happens to the films he has already financed and would they meet the same fate as CCCC?

Indu Mirani, trade expert, says, "I don't think any film will be stalled since the police has assured the industry that they won't stop the shooting of films. It will roll as usual. The only thing is that the filmmakers would have to look for somebody else to finance their films".

The police, according to the industry, has not asked anybody to stop shooting for their films. In fact, Bharatbhai's family has asked the filmmakers to stop shooting till this settled down.

"The last I know was that Bharatbhai's brother had come down from abroad and they have asked all the directors to stop shooting for the films that Bharatbhai has financed."

The rumours doing the rounds of the industry was that the brother had split with Bharatbhai because of his alleged involvement with the underworld, though there is no definite proof of it.

Komal Nahta, editor of Film Information, seconds this by saying, "No the police won't seize the prints. Not until Bharatbhai is found guilty. After that then they would have to, I guess. I am sure the filmmakers are panicking, but what's the point?"

Both the trade guys agree that there are lots of other financiers since Bharatbhai financed about 12 or 15 films a year. The rest were done by others.

Indu says, "The problem started when some filmmakers, who were facing problems, went to the underworld to settle them. Then slowly it just got out hand, I think. But Bharatbhai is such a sweet person, he always helps out people in trouble. Like he did with Rahul Gupta."

Rahul Gupta's film Hum Panchi Ek Daal Ke was stalled for various reasons. The main reason was that its director Shashilal Nair walked out on the film midway and Gupta was losing finances because of that. "Bharatbhai bailed him out then", says Indu.

Both Gupta and Indu claim that Bharatbhai could not be involved in something like this. Gupta is very optimistic when he says, "The police will give him a clean chit soon."

In fact, the industry feels that the release of the films will not be affected.

Lajja is almost is complete and Kasoor is ready for release in two weeks.

"I don't think they will meet the same fate as CCCC since the filmmakers are clean", Indu says.

Though Sanjay Leela Bansali's Devdas might be affected because they have just started shooting for the film and the huge sets erected would have to remain standing just like that till Bansali gets the go ahead to resume shooting again.

Komal agrees, "Most of the films he was financing have been completed so they won't be stalled for lack of money, but Devdas might face some trouble since they began shooting for it recently. I think Mahesh Bhatt's Kasoor will be released as planned".

Rahul Gupta's film is not stalled due to lack of finances, but due to lack of star dates. "I do need money to finish the film, but I am optimistic that the finances will continue coming in. Bharatbhai's family is also involved in the filmmaking business and they will see all the films they are financing through. I don't think I will look for another financier. My hopes are pinned on Bharatbhai, I'm sure I will finish my film."

For the time being, the industry is standing by the financier, and refuses to believe that Bharatbhai could be involved in the controversy.

"I think solidarity is a must. The guy should be nailed only if he is found guilty. There are filmmakers who call and say that this had to happen. But that's a case of sour grapes because Bharatbhai didn't find their films interesting enough to finance," says Indu.

Komal begs to differ from Indu's comment saying that it must not be Bharatbhai's family who asked the filmmakers to stop shooting but it must be the filmmakers themselves who would have stopped on humanitarian grounds. He also added that Bharatbhai is the nicest person he knows.

A fact that Bobby Kent agrees with. His production No 7 starring Salman Khan and Shilpa Shetty is on the floors and he has not stopped shooting for it either. "His arrest has been a deterrent, but Bharatbhai is very responsible and he will not let anybody down."

Though there is a general panic among the filmmakers, they all believe that he will not be found guilty.

As Bobby Kent says, "We all stand by him and know that he will come out this clean".