Mumbai: Producer Vashu Bhagnani negotiated for months to get the rights of Korean singer Psy`s hit number "Gangnam style" for his Hindi film ‘Rangrezz’. But seeing his son Jackky`s performance in the film, the father feels it was all worth it.
"It is finally worth it. I had a screening of `Rangrezz` for family and close friends on Sunday evening. Everyone loved it. I feel this film will take Jackky many steps ahead," said Vashu Bhagnani.
Buying off the rights of the original was not as easy as it seems. The doting father that he is, Vashu had to negotiate intensely for the song`s desi rights for months. And though Vashu is not willing to reveal the amount paid for the remake rights, sources reveal that the enterprising father-producer paid approximately Rs.5 crore to get the "Gangnam style" song for Jackky to dance to.
The Bhagnanis were also not allowed to make any changes in the original song in any manner. In fact, Psy first wanted to see Jackky`s dancing capability before he would pass on the song.
Said a source: "I was very keen to get the song myself. Then I heard Vashuji was negotiating, and the price he was willing to pay way exceeded my budget. At that price, I could record three original `Gangnam` songs right here in India.
"In addition to the prohibitive price, Jackky also had to prove his dancing skills. Psy didn`t want to pass on the song to incapable hands...or feet. If it was going to be used in a Hindi film, he wanted to make sure the dancer knew what he was doing."
Confirming the same, Vashu said: "Getting the song was not easy at all. There was a constant back-and-forth of email for weeks. They had innumerable questions about how we would use the song. Yes, they did want to see who would be dancing to the number before giving us the rights."
Psy is said to have watched Jackky do the "Party abhi baaki hai" song from Hindi film ‘F.A.L.T.U.’ before giving the final nod to the number.
IANS