by Subhash K Jha

After Kareena Kapoor's sudden departure from his son Harman's launch vehicle Love Story 2050, Harry Baweja is frantically looking for replacement. "It has to be someone of stature, since she will be replacing Kareena."

So it is Aishwarya Rai? "No! She's one of the names we considered. But that's it. We haven't even spoken to her directly. But within the next two weeks we'll have a replacement. If we don't get a star, we'll have to go with a new girl."

The concerned father sighs, "Luckily, the buzz about Harman and what we had shot was very positive."

Harry Baweja refuses to divulge the inside information on the Kareena episode. "Jo hota hai achche ke liye hua tha. Kareena did what she had to do. She told me she had date problems. I accept that. I hate controversies. I can't have negativity about my son's film. I've had enough to deal with lately.

During my release of Teesri Aankh Sunny Deol suddenly decided to tell the world he had a ten-day role in the film. I don't know why he said that. His statement went completely against my film. Then I leave it to fate. Finally it all got sorted and I don't want to look back."

Harry doesn't see Teesri Aankh as a losing proposition.. "A lot of things are going wrong, I agree. I haven't changed. It's just a phase. This is one of those times when things aren't going well."

Sighs Harry, " I've been too taken up with the release of Teesri Aankh. Now I've to focus on Love Story 2050. It's set in futuristic Mumbai. Way back in 1999 when I was doing research for the special effects for Deewane,I wondered why we can't have special-effects films like Alien and Star Wars.

At that time we didn't seem to be capable to take on Hollywood. But now I think we in Bollywood are ready to take on the sci-fi. I thought to myself, why not combine a love story with a sci-fi format? That has never been done anywhere in the world."

Love Story 2050 is written by Harry Baweja himself. " Earlier we thought of launching my son Harman with something else since he didn't seem mature enough to carry off the sci-fi format. But then he trained in LA and grew up enough to carry off what we had in mind.

Also," Harry adds, "the multiplex movement mushroomed, Suddenly there was scope for all kinds of films. We were emboldened to try something different."

Baweja has set aside a budget of 30 crore rupees for his son's launch. "It requires top-of-the-line special effects and action scenes."

How does Harry Baweja assess his son? "He's got my genes. I was an actor myself, did theatre. Came to Mumbai with only the intention of being a director, though because by then I had a family to support."

He shoots down all comparisons with Rakesh Roshan's Krissh. "Our film has nothing to do with Krissh. Hrithik has supernatural powers in Krissh. He jumps over buildings without being superman or spiderman. We did all of that in my Qayamat three years ago, except that I made sure the actors did their stunts in a logical way."

He speaks about his various productions. "Vikram Bhatt has just completed a thriller called Speed for me. ....I enjoy getting directors to make film for our production house, though I admit we've had some bad experiences in the past. Usually we don't go over-budget.

Speed has gone over-budget. But that was because it went though some changes. ...I've gone through some trying times. But I feel the launch of my son's film will put an end to my troubles. I've already started breathing easy."