Amitabh Bachchan's two back-to-back releases Bbuddah - Hoga Terra Baap and Aarakshan are caught in a combat of sorts. The two films portray the mega-star in absolutely contrasting roles.
In BHTP, which is being produced by AB Corps, he plays a defiant anti-social rebel, who thinks he is still 22. While in Aarakshan, which is being directed by Prakash Jha, he plays a senior respectable professor!
Jha is now worried that his film, which deals with a serious social issue, would suffer if thrown against the flamboyant bachchanalia of his character in Bbuddah.
A friend of senior Bachchan says, "Jha does have a disadvantage.
Once the veteran actor is shown as a bad boy having all the fun in the world in the Puri Jagannath movie, the audiences would find it difficult to adapt to his ideologically motivated part in Aarakshan.
Jha's team fears that BHTB might still be playing in theatres when their movie releases."
Clash of interest
To avoid a clash of interest, the director has now suspended all the marketing and promotional events related to his movie.
Says a source, "Prakash has made up his mind to keep his movie completely away from the other.
He also turned down the suggestion to attach Aarakshan's trailer to Bbuddah since he felt it would create a completely undesirable impression in the audiences' minds."
When contacted the director said, "We will cease all promotions of the film until after the release of Bbuddah. Both the movies feature Amitji in diametrically opposite roles. We don't want any confusion or clash of interest."
Gag order
Apparently, Jha has also requested Big B not to make any mention of his movie in any media event until Bbuddah is released.
However, the filmmaker shot down reports about his refusal to attach the trailor of his film to the other but revealed he has spoken to the makers of Double Dhamaal to attach the trailer of his movie.
Singing the blues
There's also buzz that Prakash has cut down the proposal to have Big B sing for his flick. Retorts Jha, "Not at all! Amitji is certainly not singing in my film. This is not that kind of a film where his character can sing."