Overview

• In interviews this week, Suneel Darshan reflected on the 2005 Barsaat controversy and explained his decisions as director-producer.
• He recalled that Akshay Kumar withdrew mid-production citing turbulence in his personal life and asked for the film to proceed without him.
• Darshan chose to retain Priyanka Chopra as the lead to preserve her reputation and keep the project on track.
• After Kumar’s departure, he cast Bobby Deol in the role to complete Barsaat.
• The fallout fueled rumours of an affair that strained Kumar’s marriage to Twinkle Khanna and led to a two-decade estrangement between Darshan and Kumar.