/> Where is Apoorva Lakhia? Has the failure of Mission Istaanbul driven him out of Bollywood?

Said a catty associate director, "After Mission Istaanbul he's been dumped by Popcorn Entertainment and Balajee Films. And none of his friends like Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan and Zayed Khan want to work with him."

Last heard he was back in India after his brother's wedding in th

e US, fraternizing with pals Sanjay Dutt, Zayed Khan and the rest of the Blue team in Bangkok. Says a source, "In fact Lakhia had gone to Bangkok to sign Zayed for his next film. But after Zayed turned him down, Lakhia just left. He feels all his friends have turned their back on him."

Much probing and searching later Lakhia is indeed traced to his family in New York.

When asked why he had left at time when he needed to re-establish his position in the industry, Apu says, "I heard the film industry was in a total mess and not much happening.

So I was chilling in the US.Now I'm back in Mumbai. As for my friends dumbing me Balajee Telefulms has given me a nice fat signing amount. If they don't want to work with then no problem."

In fact Apoorva is all set to start a film to be co-produced by HMV-Sa Re Ga Ma and Sohail Makhlai.

"It's a suspense thriller that I start in March 2009. I'm working on the script right now.

People may love me or hate me I'll continue to make the films I believe in, no matter what. And for those who are wishing me to go away, let me inform them I'm not going anywhere in a hurry. I've to go home every year since New York is where I live."

Lakhia needs to spend a part of each year in NY for visa purposes. "But I'm back...and how!" he ends.