Bollywood producer Vashu Bhagnani takes Mumbai to Shimla

Mumbai: Shooting in Mumbai has become a Russian Roulette, thanks to its unpredictable weather. After Madhur Bhandarkar postponed his outdoor schedule in Mumbai for ‘Dil To Bachcha Hai Jee’, it is now Vashu Bhagnani`s turn to suffer due to heavy and erratic rains. A part of the shooting for his son Jackky`s re-launch film was meant to be in Mumbai, but now will have to be done in Shimla.

Explaining the sudden translocation which would mean an extra cost of at least Rs.20 lakh, producer Vashu explains: "We had planned some songs and scenes in Khandala. But the weather Gods did us in. The monsoon in Maharashtra has become dangerously moody. It is impossible to shoot outdoors in the rains. Earlier when it used to rain, shooting got delayed for an hour and then it was fine." But this monsoon is different. "We just can`t shoot in these rains. When the downpour begins, it goes on the whole day. We discovered it was impossible to shoot in Khandala. So we`re moving to Shimla which looks a lot like Khandala. Believe me, Shimla which was supposed to have erratic weather conditions is far more predictable than Maharashtra these days," he added. Luckily Vashu has a director who doesn`t delay shooting. Says the producer: "The choreographer Remo is as disciplined in direction as he`s in dancing. He doesn`t waste time or resources. When our schedule in Khandala didn`t work out, he quickly relocated to Simla. I am done with wasteful directors." The Simla-as-Khandala schedule starts as soon as Vashu`s son Jackky returns from South Africa, where had gone to watch the FIFA World Cup finals. IANS