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Exclusive | Paresh Rawal reacts to OMG 2 controversy: Akshay Kumar se meri koi problem nahi hai
Actor Paresh Rawal, in an exclusive chat with HT City, has reacted to producer Ashwin Varde's statement against him, and director Amit Rai's claim on the story.
Actor Paresh Rawal claimed on Vickey Lalwani’s podcast that OMG 2 grew from an idea he had shared with director Amit Rai, but that he received no credit for the concept. He has now clarified to us that he never claimed to have written the film and only wanted acknowledgment, not money. He also insists he has no problem with Akshay Kumar.
“Arre bhaiya, Akshay and I are doing Bhagam Bhag 2 next, which is Ashwin’s film. Bhooth Bangla bhi ki abhi. Meri Akshay se genuinely koi problem nahi hai. Why would I? Akshay had tried to convince me to do OMG 2 as well, I told him it’s not the right subject, it won’t be palatable if we insert Gods in the middle of talking about sex in the film. But they went ahead, the film became successful, I am happy. Baat abhi bhi lekin vahi hai, Gods were not required in that script,” Paresh tells HT City exclusively.
As for Ashwin and Amit’s reactions post his statement on credit for the story, Paresh adds to us, “My relationship with Amit goes long back, he’s a hardworking, research based writer. I told him one day ‘ek idea hai, hum sex par kuchh bana sakte hain, ek chhota baccha hai, masturbate karta hai’... vahaan se baat shuru huyi. I suggested we should go and meet sexologist Prakash Kothari, since it needed scientific facts. I would not say maine likha hai, screenwriters association ke paas aapka hi naam hai (Amit’s) But when you share ideas with each other, usme concept mera tha, I was just asking for that credit, and not paisa. It just came out after many years while I was giving the interview, that I would have been happy if I would have been credited. I have never said Amit has not written it.”
The 71-year-old questions why would he ask for a writing credit after such a long career as an actor. As for Ashwin saying Paresh took OMG 2 to Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn and didn’t reveal they rejected it because OMG is Akshay’s IP, he replies to HT City, “Even our name is credited as producer on it, IP unki hai. If I really wanted to do OMG 2, I would have told Akshay. I didn’t tell him because the moment we came together, people would have assumed it’s OMG 2, which was not the case. The producer insisted, but I said I don’t want to encash on the franchise.”
Paresh recalls that after his refusal, stories were allegedly circulated that he was removed from the spiritual sequel because of high fees demand. “Agar mujhe paise se mohabbat thi toh kar daalta na? Also, I have not written the film, Amit did. Lekin tidbit toh hamare aate hain na, har actor koi na koi ideas deta hai. Chalo maine Amit ko 50 ideas diye, and he rejected 49. But the one he liked… you can be generous enough na? And rightfully also. I am not holding anything against what Ashwin said. I have lots of love and compassion for Amit. Jisko jo bolna hai bol sakta hai.”
