By Subhash K Jha

The very talented and prolific director Raj Kumar Santoshi is at the moment extremely perturbed by alleged death threats from producer Feroz Nadiadwala.

Sounding utterly hassled Santoshi said, `I should have never agreed to direct a film for him. The proposed project Power took away almost three years of my life. During this time I signed no other films.
People began to wonder if I had stopped getting work. But a commitment is a commitment. And I was ready to make the film for Feroze. But what was I supposed to do if he couldn't get the project going even after so much time had passed? `

Santoshi says he had been warned by the entire film industry against working with Nadiadwala. `Every director from Mahesh Bhatt to Priyadarshan has had a problem with him. Anyone I'd speak to would warn me against working with him. But I didn't listen to anyone. Now I am paying for not listening. `

Santoshi alleges that he has been seriously threatened by Nadiadwala. `He has even threatened to bump me off. There have been all kinds of threats which I can't talk about since the matter is subjudice. I had to go to court to protect my family and myself from any harm. `

Santoshi disputes the amount that Nadiadwala claims he's owed by the director.

Protests Santoshi, `He claims I owe him Rs 16 crores. How did he come to this figure? What is the basic for his calculation? To me it sounds like extortion. `

Santoshi says he was willing to sit and sort it out with Nadiadwala. `I suggested we sit together with some influential and trustworthy members of the film fraternity. Lekin wohkisiki nahin sunta (he doesn't listen to anyone). `