Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; November 26, 2015)

Talk about Ekta Kapoor’s long-in-the-making project, Milan Talkies has resurfaced with industry sources claiming that the producer has decided to wash her hands of it. Supposed to roll in September 2013, the film repeatedly ran into trouble apparently due to casting issues and unavailability of actors who were approached in the last couple of years.

Says a source, “Ekta feels Milan Talkies is jinxed; one actor after another has been turning down the film. She is no longer interested to invest in it.”

With Ekta’s Balaji Telefilms apparently abandoning the project, there is buzz that the film’s director Tigmanshu Dhulia (who replaced Milan Luthria at the helm) wants Milan Talkies to become a reality. “Tigmanshu reworked the script and has an emotional attachment to it. He wants to keep the project alive,” adds the source.

Ekta remained unavailable for comment while Tigmanshu denies the buzz. However, a source close to the director confirms the story and says, “He is now on the lookout for another producer to make the film.”