RGV unmoved by Sholay legalese

Mumbai: Bollywood filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is unfazed by the legal battle over the copyrights issues of the film Sholay and says he will go ahead with his plans of remaking it.

"I can't comment on the matter since it's sub-judice. All I'll say is that I'm not the least affected by this. I'm going right ahead while my lawyers are taking care of the matter," Varma said.

In response to a petition filed by Sippy Films Pvt Ltd and Sholay Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, who claim to have the legal rights over the movie, the Delhi High Court issued a stay order on the remake of the film.

The petitioners claimed that the maker of the movie violated the Copyright Act, as they have already registered the names Sholay, Gabbar and Gabbar Singh.

But a legally informed source from Varma's production company said, "It's a well-known fact that you can't register copyrights for the names of characters. Phantom is a well-known comic book character. But you can call anybody Phantom as long as he doesn't resemble the original Phantom.

Likewise, Ram Gopal Varma's Gabbar's clothes, setting everything is different. And he's being played by an actor who doesn't look anything like Amjad Khan."

Diwali may be a time when Bollywood comes to a standstill but Ram Gopal Varma shot his Sholay right through the festival with Mohanlal who plays Thakur in the film.

"For me celebrations, festivals are meaningless. I don't wish anyone on their birthday or for Diwali," said the director.

Varma is in seventh heaven and raves about his favourite star Amitabh Bachchan.

"Every day that I shoot with Bachchan, I'm shocked by the level of his performance. He's bringing out the megalomaniacal and emotional aspects to Gabbar Singh's character in a way one can't imagine," he said.

About the controversial "Mehbooba" song, he said: "I'm shooting it in November. Yes, Bachchan will join Urmila in the dance and recite a few lines. Ganesh Hegde is doing only one song Mehbooba.

After Himesh Reshammiya's departure, I haven't decided on who will score the rest of the songs. We can write a book about who's in and who's out of my film."

Varma has something to say about the Bhojpuri Sholay too.

"I'm so scared. My film will flop. Seriously, I want to call Ekta Kapoor and tell her we should fight this legal hassle over Sholay together."