Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; July 14, 2014)

Vishal Bharadwaj’s upcoming film, Haider, is an adaptation of Hamlet. What’s interesting is that Onir’s next project, called Veda, is also an adaptation of the Shakespearean drama.

Incidentally, not too long ago Tigmanshu had revealed his plans to make a movie on Hamlet with Hrithik in the lead role, and Onir was allegedly upset about it as Veda — that he had announced three years ago — deals with the same subject.

Now sources say that it’s director Vishal Bharadwaj who is not happy about Onir working on his film. The former has apparently expressed his displeasure about Onir starting work on Veda. Says a source, “Vishal was with a few friends recently and he said that while he’s okay with filmmakers adapting plays, why should they only look at Hamlet. He said, ‘Suddenly everyone wants to make an adaptation of Hamlet including Onir’.”

When contacted, Onir said, “I will work on the film after finishing the film I am currently busy with. I had announced the project before everyone else did and Vishal is a friend. These are just rumours being circulated by people. It will not affect him at all — if anything it will affect me because his film releases first.”

Vishal said, “Shakespeare is not my property; I’ve made my film and Onir is too sweet to get upset with.”