Filmmakers deny Abhi’s hand in Priyanka missing on a role

Filmmakers Abbas-Mustan have cleared the air about rumours that actor Abhishek Bachchan urged them to remove actress Priyanka Chopra from the cast of the Hindi remake of "The Italian Job" saying she wasn't offered the film at all.

"The star cast of 'Italian Job' was finalised long time back. We had signed Abhishek Bachchan, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Katrina Kaif in the first go and Katrina was always our first choice so there was no question of talking to Priyanka Chopra," Abbas told IANS.

"She was never approached or spoken to for this role so how can Priyanka lose out on a role she was never even considered for?"

Priyanka's spokesperson confirmed it saying: "There have been no discussions with Priyanka for this film ('Italian Job')."

Rumours have been abuzz that Priyanka was dropped from the film on Abhishek's insistence after he learnt that she had refused a role in his friend Rohan Sippy's film "Dum Maaro Dum".

While Abbas has denied any such casting pressures from Abhishek, Sippy says the actor is non-interfering in this regard.

"Abhishek is a consummate professional, who has never interfered in any part of the creative process on all the films we have worked on, including 'Dum Maaro Dum'," said Sippy who has earlier worked with the actor in the hit film "Bluffmaster".

"Any media reports suggesting that he has been for or against any casting is categorically false and contrary to his position as a wonderful actor who is collaborating with some of the most respected directors and producers in the industry today," he added.

Indo Asian News Service