by Subhash K Jha

"Am I some idiot to let one of my actors make my film for me?" Priyadarshan who's just out of hospital after a sinus problem, laughs sarcastically at rumours doing the rounds in Bollywood that Akshay "chopped off" his co-star John Abraham's scenes in Garam Masala.

Sighing deeply Priyan comments, "This is nothing but a figment of a troublesome journalist's imagination. It may be some people's idea of publicity, not mine. I've been around for too long to let actors dictate to me."

"Akshay never showed the slightest inclination to invade John's territory. In fact I've been in touch with John. Not once has he expressed any grievance against Akshay. So who are these people spreading these rumours? I want to know their identity."

The failure of his Diwali release Kyun Ki has sorely disappointed Priyan. "As I kept saying Kyun Ki was from my heart. Its failure broke my heart. I wanted to make films that I believe in. But now it doesn't seem possible, at least not in Hindi where the market is dictated by the formula."

"I guess I might as well make films like Garam Masala and not lose my audience in Bollywood. I can make the more serious and experimental films in Malayalam where the market is more friendly to new ideas."

Priyan regrets the damage that the failure of a 'serious' film like Kyun Ki does to the star system. "People said Salman shouldn't have died at the end. But that was my story! Why should I have changed the ending? Just to suit the Diwali mood? In that case I should've never released Kyun Ki in Diwali."

"If films where Bollywood stars try to go beyond convention don't work they'll continue to do the same kind of safe films. No wonder big banners like Yashraj Films make films based on specific formula and mood. At least they're ensured their success. In Bollywood success is all that's respected."

In the same breath Priyan admits his next release Malaamal Express is a more believable comedy.

"It's nothing like Garam Masala which was an out-and-out escapist comedy. Malaamal Express is more rooted to reality. It's for a more selected audience. If there were 300 prints of Garam Masala only a 100 prints of Malaamal Express should be released."