The trio had composed the music for Housefull and Heyy Babby. But for his third outing as director, Sajid preferred to work with the composer duo.
Says a source, "It came as a surprise. SEL has always believed in letting their music do the talking and have steered clear of controversies.
Having been part of Khan's earlier projects, they were looking forward to team up again with him. But looking at the growing popularity of other composers and their hit tracks in recent times, filmmakers feel they need other names."
Producer Sajid Nadiadwala admits, "Yes, it's true that Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy are not scoring the music for Housefull 2. Sajid (Khan) wanted a new set of technicians. It was entirely his call."
Explains Sajid, "It is a new project for me, a new story and new cast except for Akshay Kumar, Boman Irani and Chunky Pandey.
I wanted to work with a new set of people. It is a new story and most of the crew like the DoP and art director are also new."
He adds, "Shankar-Ehsaan- Loy are my buddies. I love them. I am sure that I will work with them in the future."
So what made him drop his pals? "It is just that I wanted a new feel to the music as it is a completely new story. Sometimes, you have to work with another set of people."
However Shankar Mahadevan of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio maintains, "The schedule of Housefull 2 did not match ours as we had to deliver Don 2 and Aarakshan in the same period."
Housefull 2 will now have three Sajids on board. The producer, director and one half of the composer duo!
KJo, too!
Karan Johar has also dropped Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy and roped in Vishal and Shekhar for his next film Student of The Year.
SEL have been an integral part of several of KJo's productions like Kabhie Alvida Naa Kehna, My Name Is Khan, Wake Up Sid and We Are Family. About their non-exclusion, Shankar says, "I guess Karan wanted to work with another team for this one."
