Last week, Ali Abbas Zafar announced that he will be making the remake of Shekhar Kapur’s iconic 1987 film, Mr India. The 1987 movie that starred Anil Kapoor and the late Sridevi was a massive success and continues to be a favourite for many. After the announcement of a remake, Sonam Kapoor took to social media to share a strongly-worded post criticising the filmmaker.
In her post, the Neerja actress stated that she wasn’t aware that the classic is going to be remade until Ali Abbas Zafar announced the project on social media. Sonam Kapoor also added that neither her father Anil Kapoor nor the film’s director, Shekhar Kapur were consulted about the film’s remake.
She said, “A lot of people have been asking me for the Mr India remake. Honestly, my father didn’t even know that the film was being remade, we found about it through social media when Ali Abbas Zafar tweeted. It’s quite disrespectful and underhanded, if it is true, since no one bothered to ask my father or Shekhar uncle – two people who made a major role in making the film what it was and what it is.”
FYI pic.twitter.com/YRmrny8VeW
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) February 22, 2020
A week after the film was announced, Shekhar Kapur too took to social media and expressed his displeasure over the project.
No one has even asked me or mentioned to me about this film called Mr India 2. I can only guess that they using the title to get a big weekend. For they cannot use the characters/story without permission from the original creators of the film. https://t.co/Set5eDH63j
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) February 18, 2020
We sit with writers from day one, but are not the writer. Help actors hone performances but are not actors. Develop and create visual language of film. Slave hours over editing consoles. Directors lead and inspire every aspect of a film and have no creative rights? #MrIndia
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) February 22, 2020
Post this, netizens started tweeting to Sonam if it was, in fact, Boney Kapoor who had the sole rights over the film and if the two brothers spoke to each other at all before taking to social media and talking about it.
To this, the Raanjhnaa actor replied, “My father did have a word with him actually. We are all still very confused about how it was announced.” In another tweet while replying to a user, Sonam had revealed, “My father was part producer, he made the film happen. And Shekhar Kapoor directed the film. He is the captain of the ship. So your argument is redundant and very obvious trolling.”
Many media publications also called her statement a rant and Sonam Kapoor found that highly sexist. Our star didn’t take any of it lying down and in fact, took to Twitter to tag and call out the portals for calling a strongly worded statement a rant just because a woman was putting her point across.
Some netizens took to trolling the actress but just like always, she gave it back to them and how! One of them was stand-up comedian Abhijit Ganguly. He wrote, “Exactly what I felt for Kumar Sanu when Honey Singh’s Dheere Dheere came out. Please put your money where your mouth is na.”
To which, Sonam replied, “Everything is done appropriately. I do put my money where my mouth is. Not always on bags and shoes.”
You go, girl!
We’re hoping once the legalities get sorted, more information about this incident comes to the forefront. But with what we know right now, it’s absolutely unethical, terrible and disrespectful to steal another artist’s work like that. Kudos, Sonam, we’re hoping you and your family get more clarity on this soon.
Featured Image: Instagram
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