/> What prompted Sohan 'Kaal' Shah to overnight quit Karan Johar and his Dharma Productions and take his new project to Ajay Devgan's production house.

After much prodding Soham opens up. "First of all, when I left Dharma I had no producer on stand-by. I don't have one even now. Yes, I've met Kumar Mangatji. But I'm yet to meet Ajay Devgan! Ever since he returned from South Africa he has been very busy. I'm waiting for him to give me time.

Of course we had a rapport when I made Kaal with Ajay. And Kumar Mangatji has told me Ajay has a three-month chunk of dates next year which can be used.

But Ajay has to look at his other assignments for next year including the sequel to Gol Maal and Sholay, " Soham's agony spills over as he tries to take stock of the changed equations.

It's evident that the young Gujarati filmmaker's career is at the cross -roads. "To leave Dharma wasn't an easy thing to do. Karan has been like family. And to make the film for anyone else was unthinkable."

However a year-long wait with a ready script made Soham genuinely concerned. "I was aware that Dharma Productions had other productions on the anvil. But here I was ready to go on the floors waiting for the green signal. It was a painful decision.

But I had to move on. But when people accuse me of moving on to green pastures I am truly pained. There're no pastures for me right now. And there can be no greener pasture than Dharma productions."

Apparently the main point of conflict between Karan and Soham was the casting of Sanjay Dutt. Karan was committed to Dutt, and willing to wait until his court troubles were over. Producer Kumar Mangat indicated to Soham that Ajay would be willing to consider the role.

"All I know is, I've Renzil d'Silva (Rang De Basanti) 's script. It's my biggest asset. Now I need to put the entire project together again, piece by piece," says Soham

Among the original cast members only John Abraham has openly expressed solidarity with Soham. "He has been a pillar of strength. He has told me to first narrate the script to Ajay. John's concern for my project is genuine. I appreciate his support."

It's obvious Soham is fairly isolated from the film industry at the moment. "I'm not like Nikhil Advani who could start his own production house and put together a huge Salaam-e-Ishq after his break from Dharma. I don't have that kind of support or strength.

I didn't even want to move away from Dharma, and did so only because I had no other choice. But Karan is and will always remain my mentor. I owe whatever I am today to him. Without his production house to support me, the future looks dark. But I've confidence in my script."

Is he aware of the hurt he caused Karan by distancing himself so suddenly ? "I've spoken to Karan and sorted things out. He has been generous enough to understand what I've gone through."

Karan Johar responded with tight-lipped candour. "Soham is a master craftsman, a master story-teller and a great human-being. No matter who his producer now I hope his film will meet with great success."

Beyond this Karan will say no more.

Instead Karan is going to be producing his long-standing assistant Tarun Mansukhani's film which rolls in June. "It's a romantic comedy with the fun element being predominant.. Tarun has been with me for the last decade. And yes, it will have lots of stars. Isn't that a prerequisite for all Dharma productions?"