AJAY REFUSES TO ALLOW WIFE TO ACT WITH OLD TIME BUDDY SHAHRUKH KHAN ...
By S. Pankaj
The duo had always come up trumps, but this time it was not to be ….
Streaks of male chauvinism have started surfacing in the Ajay-Kajol marriage with the young Devgun literally forcing his wife to walk out of producer Boney Kapoor's re-make of the hit Telugu film Ananthapuram for which Kapoor had signed the most successful couple - Kajol and Shahrukh Khan.
An over-possessive Ajay is understood to have imposed an informal ban on Kajol pairing up with old-time buddy Shahrukh Khan along with whom she had given her most successful movie Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
But, wait…before you jump on to any conclusion that Kajol is not signing new movies. Of course, she is free to do movies, but there is only an undeclared ban on Kajol starring opposite Shahrukh. Why Ajay Devgun does not see Shahrukh Khan face to face is also an interesting story.
That their dislike for each other has become extreme can also be gauged from the fact that Sharukh was particularly not invited to the newly-wed couple's marriage function. The grapevine has it that Kajol very much wanted to invite her most successful screen buddy but could not do much as Ajay was completely opposed to the idea.
Many in the industry consider this a pity as Shahrukh and Kajol has been the only pair of the last decade with hundred percent success guarantee. They have given major hits like Baazigar, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge during this period. Now, as bollywood is witnessing a drop in its success rate like never before, producers are running here and there to sign this pair at any price. Producers have even been leaving blank cheques on their residences for this.
The only producer in recent times who succeeded in convincing both Shahrukh Khan and Kajol to act together in his film was Boney Kapoor (elder brother of Anil Kapoor and husband of matinee diva of yesteryears Sridevi). He convinced both of them and got their consent to act in a movie scheduled to be the remake of hit Telugu film Ananthpuram. Everything was fine and the shooting was to start this winter.
However, the Shahrukh-Kajol charism was not to be for Ajay supposedly objected once again to the two of them being paired again. Ajay Devgun and Kajol have joined hands with some IT people to be a part of the B2B site cineexplore.com. Meant mainly for providing a direct sell out availability to Bollywood producers, this site is also said to be the factor for Kajol withdrawing her name from Boney's film.
It is learnt from top reliable sources that Ajay has agreed to attach his software company on Kajol's request only on the condition that she will not work with Shahrukh anymore. Kajol conveyed her regrets to Boney only after this.
Insiders in Boney's company have confirmed Kajol's denial. But, as Boney had done all the preparations for the film well in advance as he does for all his films, he had no time to go after Kajol and waste his time.
It is known through the closest sources to Boney that he has now signed Karisma Kapoor for this film. After Kajol's departure from the film whether Shahrukh Khan will still be keen to work in the film is not yet known.
One more film may be affected because of this development and that is Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam in which again Shahrukh Khan is paired with Kajol. This film is still in the process of planning and the director of the film Karan Johar is taking all the care to ensure that nothing goes wrong with his film.
