/>Diwali may be a time when Bollywood comes to a standstill. But Ram Gopal Varma will shoot his Sholay right through Diwali. "I'll be shooting with Mohanlal who plays the Thakur, on Diwali," says Ramu. "For me celebrations are festivals are meaningless. I don't wish anyone on their birthday or for Diwali."

About the restraining order against Sholay claiming copyrights over the use of the name 'Gabbar Singh' Ramu says, "I can't comment on the matter since it's sub-judice. All I'll say is I'm not the least affected by this. I'm going right ahead while my lawyers are taking care of the matter."

But according to a legally-informed source from Varma's production company, "It's a well-known fact that you can't register copyrights for the names of characters. Phantom is a well-known comicbook character.

But you can call anybody Phantom as long as he doesn't resemble the original Phantom. Likewise Ram Gopal Varma's Gabbar's clothes, setting everything is different. And he's being played by an actor who doesn't look anything like Amjad Khan."

Ramu is in seventh heaven. "Every day that I shoot with Mr Bachchan I'm shocked by the level of his performance. He's bringing out the megalomaniacal and emotional aspects to Gabbar Singh's character in a way one can't imagine. "

About the controversial Mehbooba song... "I'm shooting it in November. Yes, Mr Bachchan will join Urmila in the dance and recite a few lines. Ganesh Hagde is doing only one song Mehbooba.

After Himesh Reshammiya departure I haven't decided on who will score the rest of the songs. We can write a book about who's in and who's out of my film."

In the meanwhile Ramu has his chuckle about the Bhojpuri Sholay. "I'm so scared. My film will flop...Seriously I want to call Ekta Kapoor and tell her we should fight this legal hassle over Sholay together."