/> It's unlikely that Ram Gopal Varma will be working with his favourite protégé Mohit Ahlawat again. The young actor whom Ramu once prophesied to have the star-potential of Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan, and for whom Ramu devised two star-launches James and Shiva, is now out of Ramu's ambitious project Sholay.

Mohit was one of the first actors to be cast in the new Sholay ...in the role of Jai originally played by Amitabh Bachchan in Ramesh Sippy's Sholay.

In fact while the role of the other protagonist Veeru changed hands from Abhishek Bachchan to Ajay Devgan, Mohit as Jai remained steadfast in the cast.

So what went wrong? Ramu opens up. "Nothing! There was no showdown or any such thing. It was all done amicably. Basically Mohit is now out of Sholay. See, the decision to make Sholay was taken nearly two years back when I had no clear idea of how the project would develop.

I only knew I wanted to adapt Sholay. But as Jai's character is now designed I feel Mohit won't fit the role. So we decided not to work together in Sholay right now. We may decide to work together again some other time as and when we find the right vehicle."

He makes light of the fight theory. "Fight with Mohit? That's a frightening thought. Seeing how well- built he is, Mohit would beat me up hand-down.

More seriously, the decision about Mohit not being in Sholay was taken now only because I've been too busy shooting with Mr Bachchan and concentrating on Gabbar. Finally when I went back to Jai's role I decided Mohit was no longer fitting the role."

But Mohit Ahlawat has a somewhat different story to tell. Guarded and yet upset enough to speak out he says, "I went to meet Mr Verma on Sunday November 26 and told him I didn't want to play Jai's role any longer because I didn't believe in the character and the Sholay that he's making.

Beyond this I wouldn't like to say anything about a man who gave me two films and with whom I've spent six years of my life."