Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; April 29, 2015)

The industry grapevine is abuzz with rumours that Ekta Kapoor’s upcoming project based on Japanese bestselling novel The Devotion of Suspect X is being indefinitely postponed due to budget issues. Sources say the producer had fixed a R 20-crore budget, but the film’s director Sujoy Ghosh apparently demanded that it be doubled.

Says an insider, “After a lot of struggle, Ekta acquired the rights to the book. She signed a deal with Sujoy and had locked the casting too. However, as per the agreement, the director had to make the film within a limited budget of Rs 20 crore. If overshot, the contract would be terminated.”

The long-in-the-planning, untitled film was supposed go on floors this month with Saif Ali Khan and Kangana Ranaut in the lead. Another source says, “Ekta was keen to have a tight budget for the project, but Sujoy wanted her to extend it by another Rs 20 crore or so. But Ekta put her foot down as she does not want to make it a costly affair. So, she is likely to put the film on hold for the time being or even change the director.”

Sujoy denies the buzz, saying: “Ekta and I are thrilled about the whole concept and the superlative cast mix. The rumours around the film only seem to amuse me.”

Shubhodip Pal of Balaji Films also insists that “there is no rift between Sujoy and Ekta.”