No takers for Rajesh Khanna’s last movie

The project’s release has been postponed till March 2013.

MUMBAI: Legendary actor Rajesh Khanna’s last film Riyasat was supposed to hit screens on Friday, a day before the 70th birth anniversary of the late star. But the film’s director, Ashok Tyagi, says the release stands postponed as the team couldn’t find any distributor for the project.

The film is now expected to release in March 2013.

“This is Kakaji’s [Rajesh Khanna] last film, but every distributor is looking at it as a business. He was a superstar and nobody is bothered about his last film,” Tyagi told IANS.

“Everybody looks at this film with a business perspective. I was quite sentimental about releasing this film on his birth anniversary,” said Tyagi.

But he is still positive. “I am still very optimistic about my film because Kakaji’s performance is outstanding. I am sure the film will find its own way. I have now learned, that a few of them are deciding to release the film in March. So now Rajesh Khanna’s last film will be releasing in March 2013,” he said.

Asked if he took the support of Khanna’s family, Tyagi said, “I don’t look at it that way. But if the family wants to take an initiative, they are most welcome. But I personally didn’t ask for any help.”

For his role in Riyasat, Khanna is said to have sat and watched the DVD of the 2005 Amitabh Bachchan-starrer, Sarkar.

Riyasat also features Gauri Kulkarni, Aryan Vaid, Aryeman Ramsay and Raza Murad.

Khanna died on July 18 earlier this year after prolonged illness and a liver infection, and after he had wrapped up most of the shooting for Riyasat. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2012.           

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