Vishal Bhardwaj and Ketan Mehta quarrel over 'Rani' for Deepika Padukone's film

Vishal Bhardwaj keen to name his Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan film Rani, Ketan Mehta refuses to part with title

For an industry that popularised the phrase, naam mein kya rakha hai, Bollywood has seen a fair share of quarrels over film names recently. The newest entrants on this list are Vishal Bhardwaj and Ketan Mehta, who find themselves at loggerheads over the name Rani. Bhardwaj has his heart pinned on the title for his upcoming Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan-starrer. However, with the ownership rights of the name resting with Mehta, Bhardwaj finds himself in a tight spot.

Deepika Padukone

A source says, "Vishal has been asking Ketan for the title since the past six months. But, Ketan is not budging. This is precisely why Vishal is taking so long to announce the film's name." Bhardwaj confirmed the developments to mid-day. Buzz is, Mehta had purchased the titles, Rani and Jhansi Ki Rani, for his Rani Lakshmibai biopic with Kangana Ranaut. However, even though Ranaut parted ways with him over creative differences, Mehta still intends to make the film. "This is why Ketan doesn't want to give up the title. In fact, he had initially hoped to rope in Deepika for the role, but since she was busy filming Padmavati, things didn't materialise."

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Marking the return of the celebrated jodi after their successful act in Piku (2015), Bhardwaj's film is apparently a fictional account. The venture, currently referred to as Sapna Didi, is not a biopic, as had been previously reported. There were suggestions that the film is an adaptation of journalist-turned-author Hussain Zaidi's book, Mafia Queens Of Mumbai. Although sources now speculate otherwise, Zaidi's involvement in the project hasn't been refuted.

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