Rashma Shetty Bali (DNA; May 11, 2015)

That Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor will host the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) this year, is known. It’s also common knowledge, by now, that comedy collective East India Comedy (EIC) are scripting their lines and gags. What isn’t, is that they weren’t the first choice. The equally controversial All India Bakchod (AIB) was the original choice as writers for the new hosts.

A source close to the actors told us, “EIC has been with IIFA for long, but Ranveer specifically wanted the AIB team to put their act on IIFA together.” So, what went wrong? The backlash to the Comedy Roast spooked the organisers? Well, it seems that the reasons are very different. The source further added, “AIB was approached, but they had other film assignments in hand and hence turned down the offer.” That must have been a dampener, considering that the last time the actors came together with the AIB team, they not only tickled our funny bone, but also showed off some crackling chemistry.

Ranveer’s spokesperson denies that the actor suggested AIB for scripting, “AIB was amongst others who were considered by Wizcraft for scripting the show. Ranveer had nothing to do with this. AIB was busy and couldn’t take it up, but EIC is now writing for the show.”

Tanmay Bhat of AIB said, “Wizcraft approached us first. Shortly after, Ranveer did, wanting us to script for IIFA. We told him we already had our hands full — we’re in Singapore for our shows. Since we had worked with them earlier and had had a blast, we didn’t want to do it halfheartedly."