No buyers for Bhargava's film

While the film based on the Jessica Lal murder case starring Rani Mukerji and Vidya Balan will release this coming Friday, “Monica”, a film based on the sensational murder cases of journalists Shivani Bhatnagar and Madhumita, is yet to see the light of day.
Apparently, the film starring Divya Dutta, Yashpal Sharma, Ashutosh Rana and Rajit Kapoor, and produced by Lucknow socialite-turned-politician-turned-producer Kush Bhargava, which was supposed to release in mid-2010, has no takers.
Actor Yashpal Sharma seems unaware of when the film will release. “I don’t know when the film will be released,” he says, adding, “Sushen, the director had told me that it may release this year, so let’s see.” When asked about the cause of the delay, Sharma states categorically, “I think the producers had a tough time selling the film. I don’t know for sure but that seems a valid reason for the delay in release.”
Bhargava himself is awaiting the release of the film. “I know it’s been long due. The film took nearly two years to make and then there was post production work and talking to the distributors etc, which took time in releasing the film.” According to Bhargava the film may finally release in March this year. “We are talking to a corporate house which has taken the rights of the film to release it soon and we hope that it will be out around Holi this year. That will be a good time to release it,” adds Bhargava.
But remind him that that’s the time the Cricket World Cup and school exams will be on, and he replies, “These are things which the publicity and marketing people will work out and I’m sure they’ll do what is best for the film.” He adds, “We don’t want to delay the release any further as there are several other big films line up after that.” Bhargava further adds, “In fact, we are eagerly waiting to see the response to “No One Killed Jessica” because the subject of our films is more or less the same. After gauging the response to the film, we’ll decide on the release date, but it will not be later than March this year.”
And though the date of release may not be decided yet, Kush and his team have already worked out plans for a grand premier in Mumbai. “The first show of the film will definitely be in Mumbai because we don’t want it to be confined to just Lucknow audience. But we will also have a premiere here in Lucknow.”
Director Sushen Bhatnagar, on his part, refused to say anything more than, “We have high hopes from the film and I hope it’s a success.”
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