It was Manmohan Shetty who gave Prakash Jha his flat to stay in when he first came to Mumbai and did not have a roof on his head. Prakash Jha has since always had the highest respect and trust in Manmohan Shetty. Thus, when he made GangaaJal with Manmohan Shetty's company Entertainment One India Limited in 2003, he did not worry about the rights to the film as he knew there was only Manmohan Shetty on the other side. Prakash Jha had after all written and directed GangaaJal and was solely the man associated with the film from a public point of view. Prakash Jha has recently concluded shooting GangaaJal 2, a film he announced over a year ago with Priyanka Chopra in the lead, but just when he is now getting ready for release. Reliance Big Entertainment Pvt Ltd, along with Phantom Films Pvt Ltd, have claimed ownership of GangaaJal as Manmohan Shetty's company had sold all its rights to Reliance, who has further tied up with Phantom for their films. The legal notice (a copy of which is with us) has made Prakash Jha change the title of his film to 'Jai GangaaJal'.

Talking about his reasons, he said, “I am completely shocked on their claim that they own GangaaJal. All these years that I have spent on writing and making GangaaJal and for all these years the film has remained in public domain, everyone would associate the film and the subject of GangaaJal with only me. The legal notice is quite unethical. I called them and said, 'How can you use GangaaJal? You can't make GangaaJal with anyone else.' Manmohan Shetty backed GangaaJal and subsequently sold his company to Reliance. I still own 50% of the profits that still come to me against any revenue. Apart from my emotional attachment to the film, I still told them that I would be happy to acknowledge your credit in the title for the sake of association and you showing your generosity in not creating legal hurdles for releasing the film. But they were adamant that they also wanted a share of the profit. They have nothing to do with GangaaJal 2, have not invested in it in any way, so where is the question of any profit? Also the film is not a sequel as it does not take the earlier film for ward in any way. I have thus re-titled my film Jai GangaaJal. There was no objection raised past two years since my announcement of the film or dur ing the shooting of the same. But now, just when I have completed it and am ready for release, the notice has come only now. I will not let them take GangaaJal away from me.“

We spoke to Madhu Mantena from Phantom who chose not to comment.

For almost five years Aadesh Shrivastava battled cancer with a smile and a song. But two days after returning from a concert tour in the US, he started bleeding from the nose and was rushed to Kokilaben Hospital. It was his third relapse, but for over 40 days he fought back.

Last week, when Mirror contacted his brother-in-law, as reports of Aadesh being critical surfaced, Lalit Pandit sounded weary but optimistic. The doctors were working tirelessly. Nita Ambani and Tina Ambani had been calling on him, Shah Rukh Khan had visited too, along with several others from the film fraternity, including Shekhar Kapur, Sonu Nigam, Shaan and Kumar Sanu. “We don't need financial assistance but thanks to all the emotional support, Aadesh stood up yesterday. We're hoping he'll walk back home soon,“ he had hoped.

But on his 51st birthday, September 4, the singer-composer's condition deteriorated. Filmmaker Govind Nihalani was at the hospital for an hour-and-half, leaving after 9 pm. At 12.30 am, on September 5, his 'buddy' walked out of the world on the day his film, Welcome Back, opened. Dark irony, some would say. That's the way it had to be, Aadesh would say.

Nihalani, who worked with him in Dev, recalls many meetings before the film rolled, but Aadesh hadn't been signed. “I invited him to the mahurat, he turned up, and I will never forget the look of surprise on his face when he saw his name displayed as the music director. That moment cemented a friendship that went beyond the film,“ he says.

The veteran filmmaker remembers his 'buddy' as a fearless composer, always ready to try something new. In Dev, they experimented with a fresh voice. “Kareena Kapoor was untrained but we processed the sound. Her voice had a certain texture which made Jab nahi aaye melodious. Aadesh's wife, Vijayta Pandit, sang another version of the song that we kept for the album,“ smiles Nihalani.

Aadesh started out playing the drums and got his first big break as a composer with Kanyadaan in 1993. Lata Mangeshkar reportedly sang his first song. “So I've been told, I can't recall, but ho sakta hai,“ says Lata Mangeshkar, who has vivid memories of Vijayta coming with her brothers, Jatin and Lalit, to their home, playing around and even joining them for meals. “Their father, Pratap Narain Pandit, was close to Hridaynath, and the kids were family. Later, Aadesh told me he had married Vijayta and I even visited their home,“ she says.

Aadesh got another chance to record a song with the Nightingale, Asha Bhosle and Jagjit Singh for a film produced by Tahir Hussain. “Even this film was shelved, but I believe the song was released later,“ she muses, remembering that Aadesh shared a great bonding with Amitabh Bachchan and that they made memorable music together in films like Major Saab, Lal Baadshah, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Baghban and Baabul.

Renu Chopra, whose late husband Ravi made Baghban and Baabul, recalls how excited Bachchan was about singing Main yahan tu wahan. “He would leave shooting to go practise with Aadesh,“ she laughs. “For Baabul, he composed the classical Bawri piya ki. Sonu Nigam so loved it, he sang for free.“

Raajneeti also had the classical Mora piya, which he composed before the film started. Ditto, Satyagraha's Raske bhare tore naina. “When I was in Bhopal recently for Gangaajal 2, he called to say he had made a special melody for the film. I returned two days ago, we were supposed to meet but he was gone before I could drop by,“ sighs Prakash Jha.

The sigh is echoed by J P Dutta, who had known Aadesh as Laxmikant-Pyarelal's blue-eyed boy, who played in the rhythm section. He signed him to compose the background score for Border. “He did a brilliant job without any great inputs from my side. The theme music on the lines of Sandese aate hain was so good that had I heard it before, I'd have used it as a title track. He even came up with a thump thump on the saxophone, which he used to herald the arrival of the Pakistani soldiers,“ flashbacks Dutta, who went on to work with him again in Refugee and LOC: Kargil. “I was planning to work with him in my next film. He was full of life, laughter and music even after he was diagnosed with cancer. I was with him from 6 pm to 1 am the day he returned home from Jaslok Hospital. He was cracking jokes.One can learn from his positivity,“

Dharmesh Darshan reiterates this sentiment. The Raja Hindustani filmmaker had gone into hibernation after the death of his mother in 2009, followed by his dad passing away on December 31, 2011. On the 14th day of his father's demise, he decided to do a Punjabi film as a tribute to him. “I was still feeling low when the producer introduced me to Aadesh, telling me quietly that he had been diagnosed with cancer. He was stoic and vibrant during the two-three sessions we had before I dropped out,“ he says. Soon after, Aadesh invited Dharmesh to a show he was doing. On D-day, they learnt that Vijayta's sister, Sandhya, had been murdered. But there was no question of cancelling. “I watched, amazed, as he performed on stage, singing with Mr. Bachchan, introducing his son and even calling his wife up. The family was in pain, but the show had to go on,“ says an awed Dharmesh, admitting his respect for the man went up manifold that day.

Lata Mangeshkar has the last word on her 'young brother'. “Aadesh was a shareef man, a nek insaan, with a large heart. That's why I was really sad to hear that he was ill. I'd hoped he'd get better but you can't fight destiny,“ she sighs.“He was really close to his wife, sons Anivesh and Avitesh, the whole family. And I know wherever he is, he will keep an eye on them.“

On Monday, Priyanka Chopra flew off to Los Angeles to shoot for her upcoming American TV show, Quantico, in which she plays FBI agent, Alex Parrish. She'll be based in the US for the next six months. “I have filmed only one episode so far. I will film the next 13 now. Then depending on the ratings, it will get an 11-13 episode extension, move to Season 2 or get dropped,“ she smiles.

She'll be jetting back to India occasionally to film Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period romance, Bajirao Mastani. She shot a heart-wrenching love song with Ranveer over three days, shot some solo sequences as the typical Peshwa Bai on a set with a waterfall, and still has 15-20 days work left on the film. The trailer released last week, and there were murmurs of Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone stealing the show. She laughs off the buzz saying, “We've received so many compliments. It's an epic love story and people are describing me as fragile. Mastani was a warrior and dancer, and Kashibai was a beautiful, simple, gharelu woman.“

The actress hasn't signed a new film since Dil Dhadakne Do, but has one in the pipeline. “I will begin a new film only when I'm back after Quantico. There is no project with Zoya (Akhtar) at the moment. I love Zoya, she is fabulous, but who a director wants to cast is their prerogative,“ she asserts.

Earlier this year, Priyanka was offered the Salman Khan starrer, Sultan, but she turned it down and is believed to have suggested her sister, Parineeti Chopra's name instead. “Parineeti doesn't need my recommendation, she's a star in her own right,“ PeeCee tut-tuts.

The actress has two separate teams managing her work in the US and in India.Her mom, Madhu Chopra, threw a fit over her daughter's criminal schedule, after PeeCee admitted to having no time to bring in her 33rd birthday on July 18. But she was thrown a surprise bash by friends and family, anyway! “I have the 'Problem of Plenty' and have only been catching up on sleep during flights,“ she laughs, admitting that Gangaajal 2's wrap-up party on July 14 turned into a birthday bash with director-actor Prakash Jha shaking a leg. “There was masti, music and mithai.“

Priyanka, who isn't obsessed with fitness, had to undertake special combat training for the sequel, since she has several hand-to-hand combat scenes with her male costars. She plays an IPS officer, modelled on real life journeys of female officers. She even lived with one, while she was filming in Bhopal. “I needed to understand the difference between a female and male officer and the problems they deal with. This interaction was the only research I did,“ she points out. Prakash Jha plays her subordinate and Priyanka insists that he didn't ask her for acting tips. She often teased him when he got ready for a shot, saying, “Ab aaya na oonth pahad ke neeche.“

What's happening to her singing career? “I've recorded a pop single with an American rap artiste,“ she informs, refusing to reveal his identity. “Since it is not on my label, I can't make any announcements. The song is being produced by an American record company.“

Ask her about the new films coming up, from Abhishek Bachchan's All Is Well to Riteish Deshmukh's Bangistan and Shah Rukh Khan's Raees and Fan, and PeeCee says, “It is really important that all these films do well. I haven't had the time to catch up on other people's work but I wish everyone luck and love.“

Have you heard of Queen Harish? He is a male dancer who dances as a female. Born in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, he has danced across the world over the last decade in over 56 countries, but had never danced in Bollywood. He was introduced to belly dancing in 2002 and has since come to be known for it through all his internation al shows. We have learnt that he will make his Bollywood debut in Prakash Jha's Gangaajal 2, where he will be dancing to a song sung by Richa Sharma, shot at a desi theka. Confirming this, director Prakash Jha said, “When Queen Harish dresses up like a woman, she is so beautiful. And he is so fast that he finished the song from start to finish, all in just four hours.“ We welcome Queen Harish to Bollywood.

With her nails painted in 50 shades of pink, PeeCee was as bright as her orange playsuit, when Mirror met her at Mehboob Studios. She even playfully took a dig at her own accent, which has found many more detractors since the trailer of the American TV show Quantico, toplined by her, released earlier this month. Excerpts:

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, you said that your diary entries expressed a lot of exhaustion and loneliness. Is it very lonely at the top?
Yes. In a way, it's the price you pay for success. They say that the higher you go, the lonelier it gets and I never understood it before. The fact is that nobody is living your life with you. Nobody realises how much you do and what you go through to get where you are. My mom is with me, well, because she's my mother and my family too because we are bound by blood. But how often can you explain missed birthdays, missed events or erratic mood swings because you haven't slept or eaten and are grumpy? Eventually, the people, whom you want to keep, are the ones who understand you. I'm not going to sit and explain to you that I've just got off a flight and why I don't have time to make it to one dinner. Why do you think they say that in the movie business, no one is anyone's friend? Because it's really hard. It's been an extremely solitary journey for me.

Buzz was that you have a 20-minute role in Quantico. You could've shut everyone up at any time by announcing that you're the lead in the production...
I am not that kind of actor. I always knew it was going to be the lead role. I did the talent development deal in 2013 itself, but did not know what show it was and whether it would ever get picked up by a channel.
Quantico's pilot was one of the 25 odd pilot episodes that were screened and was a part of the final six that were short-listed.

What's playing a FBI-agent with an American accent like?
My character demanded that I have an American accent, a little bit more than my natural one! (Guffaws) Everybody thinks I have a fake accent, anyways. I was going schizophrenic because I was doing Marathi dialect training for my role as Kashibai in Bajirao Mastani and American dialect training simultaneously. I was losing my mind and forgot what I was supposed to sound like.

Will this be a long innings in Los Angeles?
I have only shot one episode, yet. We will shoot 13 episodes, starting July and the show airs in September. If the series becomes big, we might shoot episodes 13 to 28. If it does not work, they may scrap it.

You and Ranveer Singh have become frequent collaborators...
Ranveer and I give each other our space. We've shot for over 300 days altogether and everyone talks about his energy and enthusiasm, but deep down, he just loves his job so much that he tries his damn best. There are a 1000 people who want our job and we're lucky to have it. It irritates me when actors don't give it their best shot and I love Ranveer, because he's not one of them.

Are you worried about being side lined as the third wheel in Bajirao Mastani?
The love story is about and Mastani, but the complexity is there is another Paro woman, me. It was and Devdas's love Chandramukhi too (Laughs). Unlike Quantico, I won't suddenly be the only one on the poster!

So, is Gangaajal 2 the only Hindi film you are starting this year?
I have my hands full and my time management skills are terrible. I am about to sign a Hindi film for next year. And no, it is not the Sarabjit Singh biopic.

While he has always harboured acting ambitions, film maker Prakash Jha has never been seen in a full fledged role. His last screen-appearance was a fleeting cameo in the Ranbir Kapoor-Katrina Kaif-Ajay Devgn starrer Raajneeti, which he directed. Now, Mirror has learnt that the National Award-winning director will make his acting debut in Gangaajal 2, which is being presented by his frequent collaborator Ajay Devgn.

A source close to the development said: “He plays a cop in the film, but it's a manipulative character with grey shades. For a long time, he was considering other actors but eventually decided it is the ideal role for him to debut with as an actor.“

Devgn played the lead in 2003 original, which was inspired by the blinding incident in Bhagalpur in 1979-1980. The sequel, which Jha will also be directing, revolves around a female protagonist, who has yet to be cast.

In an interview to Mirror (November 17, 2014), Jha had revealed that he had drawn from the experiences of a young IPS officer posted in Madhya Pradesh. “Since she's a woman, the people around her, including the DSP, the inspectors, subinspectors and constables thought they could manipulate and bully her. But she ended up putting the house in order though she was harassed, penalised and her career threatened,“ he informed, adding that former Home Minister of Haryana, Gopal Goyal Kanda, was another muse. “He was a real estate broker who became the Home Minister and had the entire police machinery under him. Gangaajal 2 revisits the nexus between politics and the police after 12 years.“

Speculation is rife about the casting of the leading lady of Gangaajal 2, a heroine-centric project. And names like Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra are doing the rounds...
I'd love to work with Aishwarya and Priyanka but I haven't approached any one yet. I've appointed a casting director but I'm travelling till the end of the month. So, I will start speaking to actors only in December. It'll roll in January.

Buzz is, the character has a real-life muse...
Well, it is not entirely her story. But yes, I have drawn from the experiences of a young IPS officer posted in Madhya Pradesh. Since she's a woman, the people around her, including the DSP, the inspectors, sub-inspectors and constables thought they could manipulate and bully her. But she put the house in order though she was harassed, penalised and her career was threatened.

Will her identity be revealed?
No, she's still a part of the system, fortunately higher in the hierarchy today. Her story inspired me to craft Gangaajal 2 with a woman protagonist but she is not the only inspiration.

Like?
I'm intrigued by Gopal Goyal Kanda, the former Home Minister of Haryana, who was arrested when airhostess Geetika Sharma named him in her suicide note. He was a real estate broker who became the Home Minister and had the entire police machinery under him. Gangaajal 2 revisits the nexus between politics and the police after 12 years.

Has anything changed in these years?
A lot. In Gangaajal the dictum was 'every society gets the police it deserves'. Now, that has changed to 'inaction is virtue and efficiency is a crime'. Today, a cop would think twice about arresting a criminal because he knows he will have to contend with local goondas, corporations, politicians, questions in the legislative assembly, NGOs, the media, and if he escapes all these, then the judiciary. Twelve years ago, you'd approach a cop when in trouble. Today, you are scared if the police turn up at your door.

Did Raajneeti 2 emerge from the ever-evolving game of politics?
Yes, who'd have imagined two years ago that the BJP would return to power at the centre? I already had a story about a political family whose only surviving male member has left the battlefield and a woman who has come from outside picks up the baton.

So, Katrina Kaif will topline the cast. Will Ranbir Kapoor and Ajay Devgn also return in the sequel?
Ajay's character, like Manoj Bajpayee's and Arjun Rampal's is dead. I don't know if Ranbir's character will return. Katrina's Indu is now the Chief Minister and Raajneeti 2 will start with her. Then we'll have other family members coming in.

Will it draw references from real political families like the Gandhis?
Well, there will be some parallels. Remember how Rajiv Gandhi reluctantly became the PM, then lost in the next elections? His story is the tragedy of some good people who enter politics.

Your third film, Satsang, is about a godman. Right now there's one in Haryana, Rampal, defying the police who want to arrest him.
My film is about what happens when spiritualism becomes a business, a means of earning unimaginable wealth playing on the fears of ordinary people. I've drawn from Rajneesh and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to the gurus in Gujarat and Haryana--the good, the bad and the ugly. I completed the story three years ago and am waiting for Ajay to finish his film so we can roll with it.

All three are controversial subjects which could leave you open to legal harassment and post-release bans.
I will say what I have to, and face the problems if they come. I did it during Raajneeti, Aarakshan and Satyagraha and if I have to, I'll do it again.

You are also producing three other films, Crazy Cukkad Family, Lipstick Waale Sapne and Fraud Saiyyan, which are comedies. A change of genre for you?
(Laughs) Don't forget that I directed Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne, a comedy. I enjoy them. I can direct one film a year but I can produce five-six. I back good content.