/> What started as a war of nerves has snowballed into a major issue between Hyderabad's animation maverick Sudish Rambhotla and Mani Shankar, the director of Rambhotla's first feature film Mukhbiir, a slick 2-hour cerebral espionage thriller about a 19 year old government informer (Sammir Dattani) who changes his identity so often he finally doesn't know who he is.

The dispute between the producer and director is over a simple matter. While Sammir, fresh from the positive reactions to the performance in Life Mein Kabhi Kabhi, dies at the end of the version shot by Shankar, producer Rambhotla thinks a downbeat ending for a protagonist who goes through untold stress and strife, would put audiences off.

"Audiences would want to go home feeling the young boy has finally some hope of happiness in life. That's why I'd prefer a happy ending."

Counter-argues Mani, "We shot the film exactly the way I had visualized it. I see no reason to mar my vision at the end."

The spy thriller's hero is game for both the endings.

Says Sammir, "The film has shaped up so well, I don't mind either ending. In fact we've shot both endings and I like both. I love my role in Mukhbiir. And I'm in every frame. Whether my character lives or dies, I'm in almost every frame of the film."

Mukbiir isn't the first film to have shot two endings. Raj Kapoor and Mansoor Khan shot two endings for Bobby and Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. While the former opted for a happy conclusion the latter chose to end tragically.

More recently Vipul Shah had two endings for Aankhen and its two versions screened in India and internationally.

Ram Gopal Varma had gone even further. He shot two different versions of My Wife's Murder with two endings. In one Anil Kapoor had murdered his screen wife Suchitra Krishnamoorthy. In the other he hadn't. Both were supposed to be released as separate films in separate theatres.

Finally better sense prevailed. And Varma went with just one conclusion.

As the release approaches it remains to be seen which way Mukhbiir goes.

Says Sammir, "I haven't played a character who dies at the end. It's believed films where the heroes die are frequently hits. Cases in point....Rajesh Khanna in Aradhana, Anand, Namak Haraam and Andaz, Amitabh Bachchan in Deewaar and Shah Rukh Khan in Devdas."