Abhishek’s death in the climax scares distributors

Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar Raj releases next month. The film, a sequel to his 2005 release Sarkar, will also be Abhishek and Aishwarya’s first release after their marriage.

A source who attended one of the private screenings reveals that the climax of the film has given distributors cold feet. “In the climax of the film, Abhishek Bachchan is shot dead.

There is a huge build-up to the scene. Abhishek’s character Shankar Nagre who joins his father in politics wants to make changes and create a revolution.

His death is quite unexpected and is bound to give a big jolt to the viewers. Everyone expects one of the supporting characters, who protects Bachchan Jr, to die. But in the end, Abhishek is gunned down.”

The industry is abuzz with rumours that distributors are worried that Abhishek’s death won’t go down too well with the audience. “Abhishek’s death was always a part of the initial script, but the way it’s shot is quite gory. Also, once he dies, the film takes a dark turn and becomes really depressing.”

Says a industrywalla, “If Abhishek dies, Sarkar becomes an Amitabh movie. And the last memory of Amitabh and Ramu together is Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, and that’s gives distributors sleepless nights.”

It is believed that Amitabh wanted Sarkar Raj to be the first big release of 2008, but had to change that due to Ashutosh Gowariker’s Jodhaa Akbar, which released early this year.

When contacted, Ramu denied that Abhishek dies at the end, while Bachchan replied, “See the film.”