Buzz is that with a film by producer-duo Nadir and Nariman Irani getting shelved, Vivek Oberoi and Mallika Sherawat, who had been cast for the project, are now reluctant to return their signing amounts.
Sagar Ballary who was said to be directing that film, is now making another film with Vivek.
Sources say that the casting for the film was being finalised around the time Ballary's Hum Tum Shabana was being released.
"Some time after the film's release, Vivek confirmed for the Nadir Irani production venture.
And he was paid a signing amount of about Rs 50 lakh. Soon afterwards, the makers approached Mallika Sherawat and confirmed her too," points out our source.
Apparently after that, Vivek wanted some changes in the script. "So Sagar had to re-write those parts. But when the director went back to him again, Vivek had other issues with the script.
After a while of going back and forth, all work on the film came to a standstill. Eventually, the film was shelved," explains our source.
The source further tells us that after the production was aborted, neither Vivek nor Mallika have bothered to return the signing amounts to Irani.
Mallika's spokesperson confirmed that she was indeed approached for the film.
"But she hasn't signed it, and so hasn't been paid anything. The question of returning the signing amount doesn't arise," he shrugged. Irani, Vivek and Ballary remained unavailable for comment.
