Thaindian News

August 11, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): While John Abraham doesn’t plead with his ladylove to end his life like Hrithik Roshan does in Guzaarish, there are enough outward resemblances between Guzaarish and John’s much-delayed Aashayein to make John press the panic button and ensure that his film about living life to the brim in the face of death, gets to the theatres before the other prestigious film.

And the desperation to get eyeballs for Aashayein shows. One music track with an accompanying music video featuring Pritam Chakraborty is irrelevantly being used to promote the long-delayed Nagesh Kukunoor drama. This track is not a part of the film. It was never meant to be!

Composer Pritam is not only flabbergasted, he is embarrassed! “I woke up one day to see Sridhar and myself singing on television for a promotional clipping for Aashayein. I had never composed that song for Aashayein!”

Pritam wondered how the track got into the film. Some discreet inquiry reveals that T-Series who are partnering the production of Aashayein with Reliance Big Pictures had decided to use the Pritam-Sridhar music video to promote a film that desperately needs a boost.

Says Priyam, “I didn’t do the music video for Aashayein. But if it’s being used to promote the film then I am sure Bhooshan Kumar of T-Series has a plan”.

Says the source, “This is easily John’s best performance to date. He plays a man who knows he’s dying and chooses to enjoy every second left. Hrithik Roshan has a similar character to play in Guzaarish. John didn’t want to come after Hrithik because he would be unfavorably compared with Hrithik”.

The troubled project was supposed to be co-produced by Percept Pictures and T-Series to begin with. Then during the recession T-Series backed out leaving the coast clear for Reliance Big Pictures to step in.

Shailendra Singh of Percept says their company still has a stake in Aashayein. “We hold the rights to the negatives while Reliance has the domestic theatrical rights. The decision to play Pritam’s video to promote Aashayein is between Reliance and T-Series. At a time when stupid comedies are doing exceedingly well, one can’t blame T-Series for promoting the film with catchy music.”

– Subhash K. Jha/Sampurn Wire