Taurani VS. Padukone!

Ramesh Taurani is still pissed off at Deepika Padukone for abrubtly walking off the filming of Race 2. The project itself, seemed to take forever, to get on the floors. Once filming finally started, things were looking up. 6 days into the film's first round of shooting one of the leads, Deepika Paudkone, walked off the project altogether.

Deepika and her PR folks claimed scheduling conflicts as the the reason, but we all know that's typical Bollywood bullsh*t. We've heard Deepika didn't mesh well with the film makers and was uncomfortable with some of the ?ber-sexed looks they expected from her.

Ramesh Taurani, the film's producer, went on a media blitz calling Deepika things like "unethical" and "unprofessional." Now, news is out that the producer has filed a complaint with the Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) for breach of contract. A source close to Taurani revealed:

"He did not want to take such an extreme step. He waited for Deepika to change her mind. But she was adamant. She was not interested in doing Race 2 anymore." 

According to CINTAA regulations, if an artist declines to answer the summons/complaint filed against him/her, the case gets forwarded to the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, followed by a potential Non-Cooperation Directive, if the FWICE's descision is not adhered to. Sounds like a bunch of bureactic mumbo-jumbo which would probably takes ages to go through in India, so I doubt Deepika would be quaking in her boots.

Nevertheless, Deepika's people say she never entered into a contract with Taurani or the film makers, so the matter of a legal case doesn't arise. Says a source close to Deepika:

"The only paper Taurani had given Deepika mentioned that the film would be completed by September 2011. We are in February 2012. Is it anywhere near completion? No. Then why is Taurani creating such a fuss?"

Uhh...the fuss is over sh*t loads of money, schedules, and other aspects of film making that get effected because Ms. Lanky Skyscraper here decided she didn't like the outfits she had to wear! Moron!

Explaining Deepika's plans for the filed complaint, the source added:

"She will not return to Race 2. She will present her case to CINTAA soon. Both parties will be heard. She will return the signing amount soon. And as for the compensation, she is open to discussions." 

I have to wonder if Taurani would take such measures had it been one of the Khans who walked off his project, leaving him in the lurch. I don't see him filing a complaint against SRK, or even Salman Khan. Take the ladies even, I doubt Taurani would do this to Kareena, Katrina, or ARB.


Without comparing this situation to others and wondering "What if?" I don't condone Deepika's actions in this matter, from what little information I've heard. If her reasoning for walking off a project was as shallow as her not getting along with people and/or suddenly having inhibitions about wearing a bikini, she should be sued! Honor your f*cking commitments!

I suspect the real reason(s) have to do with her remuneration and screen time!

;-)
[TOI, IANS, HP]