by Subhash K Jha

James director Rohit Jugraj triggered off a wave of indignation in the film industry, when a series of off-the-cuff remarks about his mentors, Ram Gopal Verma and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, were attributed to him.

The James director is in a state of shock, not because Ram Gopal Varma has decided to remake Rohit's flop directorial debut, James, but because he has been quoted as making dismissive, disparaging remarks about his mentor.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali laughs off Rohit's remarks. "Let the boy be," says Sanjay. "His mother is unwell. And I wish him all the best." RGV, who's the hardest hit by the fusillade of aggressive comments attributed to his discovery, heard about it in Hyderabad.

"Did Rohit really say I'm not remaking James? It'd sound really cheap if I respond to this. All I'll say is... everything Rohit has said about me must be true. I wish him all the best. As for James, it was supposed to be a rehash of my first Hindi film, Shiva. But, since Rohit did such a bad job of it, I'm personally rehashing Shiva myself, which means I'm technically remaking James."

"Who am I to question Ramu about what he makes or remakes? To even suggest that I'd challenge him on his decision to re-do James is ridiculous. It's Ramu's call. And I'm no one to question it," says Rohit. "I've the highest regard for Ramu and his work.

That's why I was keen to learn from him. But when I was asked to direct Shiva with the same cast and crew as James, it was too much of a repetition for me. I chose to move on," he reasons.

"That doesn't mean I'd comment on Ramuji's ego or the candles in Sanjayji's frames. Who am I to talk about them? I'm a one-flop director struggling to make another film. Now, after all these false statements about people who nurtured my career, I've gone back many steps before James. I've to start from scratch."

Rohit is currently standing vigil outside the ICU ward in a Delhi hospital, where his mother is fighting for her life.