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Subhash K Jha (DNA; March 28, 2016)

It was meant to be filmmaker Ramesh Sippy’s comeback film. Sippy, the formidable director of not only the historic Sholay but also Andaz, Seeta Aur Geeta, Shaan, Sagar and Shakti, had not directed a film for 20 years. His last directed film was the disastrous Zamana Deewana in 1995 featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Raveena Tandon.

Therefore when Sippy announced his directorial comeback, and that too starring his favourite actress Hema Malini who featured in Ramesh Sippy’s biggest blockbusters Andaz, Seeta Aur Geeta and Sholay, there was jubilation among movie lovers. Shimla Mirchi was bold and it featured Hema as a woman in love with a much younger man, played by Rajkummar Rao.

But now the film has been complete for nearly a year with no sign of release. Says a source close to the project, “The shooting was wrapped up on May, 2015 in Shimla. Hema, Rajkummar and the Telugu actress Rakul Preet Singh were in the schedule. But the film has evinced no curiosity in the market. It’s basically without any buyers.”