by Subhash K Jha

It seems Saif Ali Khan's stars don't tally with women directors. First Aparna Sen's first Hindi film Gulel sank after Saif kept her on hold for months before finally saying no.

Then it was Zoya Akhtar who had to scrap Luck By Chance when Saif couldn't make up his mind.

Now a third female director Sai Paanjpye will have to be turned away disappointed. Saif has no knowledge of Paranjpye's project.

Shooting the last lap of Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Eklavya in Jaipur, Saif cuts down Sai's claim to size.

"I've never met Sai Paranjpye. I've no idea where this come from! I don't know the lady at all. I wish her all the best. But I am not doing her film because I don't know her."

Saif confirms that the only film he has said yes to is Siddharth Anand's next. "I'm so pleased with the way Salaam Namaste shaped up, and now its boxoffice performance. Wow! It feels good. I heard Siddharth's next script. It's again a very metrocentric film to be shot entirely abroad and yes, I'm doing it. Beyond that I'm not looking at any other film right now, not Sai Paranjpye for sure."

In all fairness, this time around it isn't Saif's fault at all. The director who hasn't made a feature film since the controversial Saaz in 1997 , in her eagerness to attract buyers and the media must have expressed a desire to work with Saif Ali Khan.

Alas Saif isn't inclined to sign that easily on the dotted line. Like all female directors , Paranjpye faces an acute shortage of star participation in her films.

Earlier an Aparna Sen could attract Raakhee for Paroma, Kalpana Lajmi convinced Dimple Kapadia to do Rudaali. And Shrabani Deodhar penciled in Karisma Kapoor for Silsila Pyar Ka.

Now female directors find it increasingly tough to get stars for their projects—unless it's Farah Khan who has an inhouse superstar Shah Rukh Khan to support every directorial move she makes.

Coming back to Saif he's exhausted but triumphant after the experience in Jaipur. "We shot like maniacs. But the end-result is astonishing. Hats off to Mr Bachchan. He would be ready with makeup and glycerine at 5 in the morning while I'd be rubbing my eyes in disbelief."