The producer of "Kal" said: "Chitrangada is entitled to take a decision on her life and what she thinks is priority. It is nobody else's business. I don't know why the issue is being blown out of proportion."
Reports of Chitrangada's decision to quit surfaced following her conspicuous absence from the press conference of "Kal" at the Osian's Cinefan Film Festival in Delhi in July.
Mishra continued, saying "I fail to understand what the big deal is all about when there are so many actresses in the past who quit acting, though they had everything it takes to make it big in films. When Tara Deshpande, whom I launched in 'Is Raat Ki Subah Nahi', got married and became a housewife in Boston, no one uttered a word about it."
He also said that there was no question of taking legal action against Chitrangada for her inability to participate in the promotional campaign of the film.
"We would appreciate it if she makes herself available for the pre-release promotion of 'Kal', considering it is a very powerful film and she has given an excellent performance in it, but there's no question of taking legal action against her," he said.
He rubbished rumours that Chitrangada was keeping a low profile because she wanted to distance herself from him, her supposed mentor in films.
"The rumours are baseless. In the first place, I don't really consider myself her mentor. I have never controlled her decisions or that of any other artiste in the past. Besides, she's an independent and spirited girl who's capable of taking her own decisions," he said.
According to Mishra, Chitrangada never quite anticipated that her screen presence would make waves when she was first cast for Hazaron... ".
"She was a simple girl who came to the screen test for a lark, little expecting that she would be offered the central character in the film. Nor did she expect to be touted as the next Smita Patil when the film was released. Meanwhile, she decided to go for 'Kal', since she was comfortable working with the same unit and Ruchi Narayan, who besides being my associate and co-writer in 'Hazaron...' was also her best friend.
"She liked the professional and non-filmi atmosphere in our unit but now that she is suddenly flooded with offers, she has to choose between a career in films and a family life. I don't deny that she is a fabulous actress and has got a terrific potential, but she should be allowed time to take her decision," Mishra said.