Bipasha Basu rejects Abbas Mustan’s next, despite the success of Race!

Director duo Abbas Mustan who turned producers with Race probably expected stars to line up to sign their next but were shocked when Bipasha Basu turned down their next project to be directed by Rumi Jaffery.

It is rumoured that the actress refused to be a part of the film as the script didn’t suit her sensibilities and because she wants to do only performance-oriented films henceforth.

An industry insider reveals, “After Race, Abbas-Mustan thought that Bipasha would agree to do their next project which they are producing under their newly formed production house, Burmawala Bros; especially since they’ve already got the nod from Govinda, Fardeen Khan and Tusshar Kapoor.

In the past week, the writer and the directors met Basu for a narration and were confident that Bipasha would love the concept of the film and sign on. But the actress simply said an emphatic ‘No’.”

Normally after a producer or director gives a thumping success, the team almost always gets together again. So, when Bips said a nay to the stylish makers, it came as a shock to them.

There were no requests of ‘Let’s try to work this’, or even ‘I’d love to do it, if I had time…’ The actress left no room for negotiation. She made it clear she didn’t want to do their film.

Says an industry insider; “It’s probably because Katrina walked off with the accolades for Race.”
Now the directors are back to square one and are brain storming for an actress who would do justice to the role.”

However, Abbas denies even approaching the actress, “We never approached her for the role in Rumi’s film. We are in talks with her for another film, which we are planning to direct ourselves.

She has, in fact, agreed to be a part of that film. We share a very different relationship with Bipasha and don’t have to even give her a script or a narration.

She is always ready to do our films. On the other hand, Govinda, Fardeen Khan and Tusshar are on for Rumi’s film and we are going to finalise the actress in that project within a week or two.”

Amul Sharma, Mid-Day