August 23, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): When Shailendra Singh heard about Michael Douglas’ throat cancer he was shocked beyond belief.

“Michael has tireless energy. He’s so spirited. He once came home for dinner straight after flying through Japan, Thailand into Mumbai and then drove straight to my home where he was quite taken up with Lara Dutta and….Ram Gopal Varma!”

In fact RGV and Michael Douglas had got into a heated argument over the climax of one of Douglas’ films at the same party.Shiva Mani had played with his live band at the party while Michael and Ramu argued loudly.

Michael and Shailendra have know each other well for many years.The superstar from Fatal Attraction, Wall Street and Romancing The Stone was all set to do a film Racing With The Monsoon with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for Shailendra Singh’s Percept Pictures.

Says Singh, “Aishwarya, Michael and I were having dinner at the Marriot when Michael expressed a desire to meet Mr Amitabh Bachchan. The meeting was supposed to happen at the Bachchans’ residence Jalsa. Unfortunately it couldn’t.”

Sighs Shailendra. “I’ve spent some terrific times with Michael.My most memorable experience with Michael was when we drove down together from Ambi Valley since flying back was impossible. On the way I asked Michael to recite my most favourite dialogue from The American President. He laughed and told me to f..k off. He just doesn’t take the superstar tag seriously.”

Shailendra Singh says Michael has lately been going through a prolonged bout of ill luck. “He’s been having issues with his son Cameron, then this illness….But Michael is a fighter. He will see his way through this crisis. His wife Catherine Zeta Jones is a huge positive influence on his life.”

–Subhash K Jha/ Sampurn Wire