What is your first reaction to the arrest of producer Nazim Rizvi's arrest for his links with Chhota Shakeel?I do not know on what grounds the police have arrested him. My interaction with Rizvi was limited to Chori Chori Chupke Chupke. The police must have their reasons. I do not want to get involved. But I have the world rights for the movie, the negatives belong to me and they are stopping the release of the film. They are telling the directors Abbas-Mastan and Ad Lab (where the film is being processed) to stop work. There is panic. If Rizvi has done something wrong why should my film be stopped?If the police thinks there is underworld money in the film they can verify. I can account for every paisa and all payments have been made by cheque. But how can they stop the film? My film is due for release on December 22. Distributors are panicking, theatre owners are panicking. Are you hopeful the film will be released on December 22?In this country you cannot be sure of anything. The way things are going, I can't say. I have requested them to let us release the film. People who have nothing to do with all this will suffer. I'm not going to run away. Let the police seize Rizvi's share of the profits if they want. What is the exact business deal between a producer and a financier?The producer is for overseeing production. When he needs finance he approaches a worldrights-controller who buys the world rights for a certain amount of money. He engages the director, the star cast, handles the daily production and keeps control on costs. The world rights controller's men are also at hand to ensure money is being properly spent. The profits from the film are shared equally. In this case also, the negatives are my property. He (Rizvi) cannot even release the film without my signature.What is the budget of Chori Chori.Rizvi has quoted Rs 12 crore?Yes, it is around Rs 12 to 13 crore. And you have financed him fully?Fully - I don't know. I don't keep accounts. But 99 per cent, I think that the finance for the film was from me. One per cent, I don't know. Because I don't keep accounts. And I'm not responsible for what Rizvi does after workhours. Nobody in this world can vouch for another person. But your people do keep a constant check on accounts?Yes. They do go when shooting is on etc.I have given about Rs 12 to 13 crore. And if he is saying that's how much he has spent then it could not have been financed from outside. Rizvi was a clapboy in 1983, made some B-grade films and was not known at all. What did Bharat Shah, the biggest financier, see in such a man? Was there any collateral for the money you gave him? What impressed you so much about him and the project?I did not know Rizvi and I had denied him entry for one year. As it is there are a lot of problems from the underworld. I have received many threats. There is a lot of tension at home. At one time we thought of even leaving the country. Everyday you get phones at night threatening you with death. Because of this scenario, I did not want to give entry to a new man. But then, D K Shetty of Ad Labs called me up one day saying he had a good proposal, the guy was also good and he was looking for finance. It was then that I met Rizvi and on paper I liked the project because the director and the star cast. And when he comes with a good reference, specially from someone within the industry, then hum aage peeche nahin dekhe te. Did you ask for a collateral against the loan.?No. Anyway, everything is with me. He has nothing. I have the world rights, the negatives belong to me. Eighty per cent of the producers don't have anything (so there's no question of collateral). What about J P Dutta? For eleven years he was producing one flop after another. But when he came to me with Border I was impressed with the project and financed him. Nobody was willing to give him even Rs 10 lakh. Police say Rizvi was pressuring everybody through Shakeel?Nobody - artists, directors, etc - had complained to me that this man was pressurising them. This is shocking news for me. Even after this whole thing came up, I asked them and all of them denied any pressure. Was there any pressure on you?Not even a little bit. You were in touch only with Rizvi concerning this film?Yes, only with him. Even Rizvi I met only because he was introduced by D K Shetty. I wouldn't have met him otherwise. No calls from Shakeel asking you to finance this film?No, no, no. Phir to mein karta hi nahin. Koi aadmi pagal hain? (If he had called I wouldn't have done it. Am I mad?) When I'm against the underworld and have given statements to the police in the past why would I do such a thing? They are threatening everybody, I'm not saying they are not. But I did not get any calls. Did you at any time feel that all this is not worth it and opt out of film-financing? Or will you take this in your stride and continue?I have been feeling now, in the last ten days. It's been a hard blow to my prestige. But I am watching things. If I cannot release this film, I will definitely get out of the business, hundred per cent. It's because distributors and others have faith that when Bharatbhai is involved the film will be delivered on time that they invest their money. If that confidence is shaken because of this film, it's not worth staying here. But firstly I'll explore all avenues, including legal if necessary, to get it released. If I don't succeed, then I'll get out. It's a question of my prestige.
