by Subhash K Jha
He has designed jewellery for some really big Hindi films in past. And now the entire cast of Akbar
Khan's Taj Mahal are wearing jewels designed by Tejas Jogani.
Moans Jogani, "Normally I wouldn't complain about not being credited. But in Taj Mahal Akbar Khan
made me design for every character. I've bills for every individual actress—Manisha Koirala, Pooja
Batra, Kim Sharma, even the hero Zulfi Sayed... and cheques issued by Akbar Khan to prove it."
"An item by me called Mother Of Pearls has been made ten times for the film. It serves as a
character in the film. After all this, he has credited Anna Singh with designing the jewllery! How can
he do this? Everyone in the unit knows I've made the jewels. Anna Singh has designed the
costumes. I've a reputation within the film industry to back my claims.I've designed jewellery for big
projects like Chandni, Lamhe and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. I don't need publicity of this
kind."
Chogani was shocked when the book on The Making Of Taj Mahal carried no mention of his
contribution to Khan's film in the credits section.
"Shocked and hurt I rang up Akbar Khan. He told me it's too late to rectify the error. But he
promised me full projection in his next project Changez Khan. I declined the offer. Changez Khan
baad mein dekhenge. Right now I want to be credited for my work in Taj Mahal."
"Even a wig maker gets full credit for his work. How can the jewellery designer be treated so badly?
They owe me some money also. But I don't think I'll get my money. All I want is credit. I left so many
big projects to do this one."
Tuesday, November 08, 2005 16:08 IST