Sasha Sippy, the nephew of Ramesh Sippy and the person in command at Sippy Films has expressed shock and astonishment, about a news in a section of the press, that holds him responsible for the omission of the Amitabh Bachchan classic, SHOLAY, from the New York film festival.

A section of the media had recently published the omission of three of Bacchan's all-time famous films, DEEWAR, AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY and SHOLAY from a retrospective of Bachchan starrers, currently being held at the Film Society of Lincoln Centre, New York.

The report which quoted Jaya Bachchan, said she had a tough time trying to get hold of the three films and further said that Sasha Sippy, who owned the rights of SHOLAY, apparently proved to be an impediment in the omission of SHOLAY.

According to Sasha, neither Jaya Bachchan nor anyone from her office contacted her for the prints of the film.

"I would have been glad to give the print of the film, had I been contacted. Why should I refuse the film when I know that it will only add to the reputation of the film and our distribution office? Besides, I am surprised that Jaya Bachchan did not broach the topic last week when she was sitting only a few seats away from me on a Jet Airways Mumbai-Delhi flight?," Sasha asks.

Sasha has appealed to all those who have any requests in connection with the prints of SHOLAY to contact him directly. "I'd like those concerned to contact directly at Sippy Films and not at the office of Ramesh Sippy," he says