Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; May 5, 2016)

Nawazuddin Siddiqui always harboured a dream to share screen space with Amitabh Bachchan. The actor’s wish was fulfilled in Ribhu Dasgupta’s TE3N. Strangely, however, the actor will be giving the film’s first look launch and a chance to share the dais with Big B a miss.

The actor, apparently, is so busy that he cannot even take out a few hours from his tight schedule. Nawaz’s name is missing from the invites to the event being held today.

Says a source, “Nawazuddin could not conceal his excitement over bagging the film since he has his screen idol as a co-star. He has a pivotal role in the film while Vidya Balan has an extended special appearance. The makers were hoping that he could make it for the event.”

There is also another old connect of Nawaz with Te3N — the project’s creative producer, Sujoy Ghosh. It was in Ghosh’s 2013 film Kahaani that Nawaz first got noticed and shot to stardom. Nawaz will be seen in two avatars in the film — as a priest as well as a cop, but it is not a double role.

The film’s spokesperson says, “Nawaz’s name is not there on the invites as he will not be present for the first look launch. He has said that he is in Pune.” Nawaz is said to be shooting for Sohail Khan’s film Ali in that city. The source adds, “He did not want to travel from Pune (a four-hour drive from Mumbai) for the event.”