by Subhash K Jha

Putting to rest the recent rumours that Rahgeer has been shelved, producer Pritish Nandy says, "There's no such thing happening. Rahgeer is very much on. We've Akshay Kumar's dates, and we'll certainly not let them go to waste.

Yes, there's a bit of a delay as my director Rituparno Ghosh's mother fell ill. Also Vidya Balan needs to get acquainted with her role. But Rahgeer is certainly on."

Explains Ritu, "My leading lady Vidya Balan is not very sure about her complex character. It's a role of a woman who goes through many shades and changes. It's a character that's neither black nor white.

Vidya had a problem connecting with the character. We've decided to hold an acting workshop for her. So she can get familiar with the layers and nuances of her character. Once that's on we're on."

The delay notwithstanding, both the producer and the director are charged about the project.

"But it's just one of the many projects at PNC," explains Pritish Nandy. "Our most immediate concern is the release of our Rahul Bose-Mallika Sherawat starrer Pyar Ke Side Effects in May. It has shaped up wonderfully."

Adds Vidya, "I'm a big fan of Ritu-da, and when he offered me a role I fell off my chair. When I met him we hit it off instantly. There's something extremely sensitive and warm about him. I'm dying to start working with him.

The role he offered me is so layered that I'm scared of approaching it. I'm so happy and flattered that directors come to me with such complex characters. I hope I live up to Ritu-da's expectations. I do need to prepare for the role. A worskshop seems ideal."

Incidentally...several recent films have put their actors through worskshops recently....Prime examples being Vishal Bhardwaj's Maqbool & Othello and Homi Adajania's Being Cyrus.