Ever wonder where all the confusion comes from when a film is being set up? The gossipmongers may have something to do with it. In a rush to be the one to break a story, the media sometimes exaggerates and assumes just to get it to print first. Afterwards, there are retractions and counteractions, leaving one to wonder just what is the truth.

Case in point, the revival of London Dreams. Now there is the first problem. If there was to be a revival of director and story-writer Raj Kumar Santoshi’s film taking place, would he be clueless about it? Second, originally the film was to be produced by Paramjit Singh, and the cast included Ajay Devgan, Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra. Yet, when Khan wanted his girlfriend Katrina Kaif instead of Chopra to play the leading lady the project hit an impasse and things were put on the backburner.

While Santoshi busied himself with other ventures, Vipal Shah came into play wanting to direct the film. In questioning Santoshi on this, he says, “I am not aware of this. It is my subject and I have designed and conceptualized it. Some time ago, Vipul had asked me if he could go ahead with it with Salman and Katrina, and told me clearly he wouldn’t go ahead with it unless I give him my consent. He’s a good guy and I know he won’t do something without asking me. I told him then that I had issues with the producer that were getting settled. I also said that if Salman wants to go ahead with the film with another director, he can. Whatever Salman is comfortable with, I am okay with that.”

The story continues that Shah approached Devgan but he turned it down due to his loyalty to Santoshi. To rectify the situation, Shah approached Akshay Kumar for the part, and Akshay is scrambling to fit in the dates of his already booked schedule. Shah is also planning to co-produce it with the original producer Singh. Enter Santoshi back in the scene and he says that he was out of town and unaware of these new casting developments.

Are you still with me? Here’s the twist in the story … A source close to Singh says, “We are in negotiations with Vipul Shah to revive London Dreams. Ajay is not doing the film and though we are in discussions with Akshay Kumar, both he and Katrina are yet to be finalized. Katrina is also very busy today. We should be announcing the cast in a week’s time.”

Vipul Shah says, “There is nothing to talk about as nothing is finalized yet.”

So where that leaves everything, I’m not quite sure. It’s the “who’s in, who’s out”, “date issue” games and almost everyone it seems is still in the dark. Maybe they should get together and sort things out once and for all. Then hopefully when they do, the reporters will all be in agreement with the information they disseminate to the public as the power of the pen is very strong indeed.