“I want to say sorry to Shah Rukh & Karan” – Priyadarshan

The prolific Priyadarshan’s reputation after his television appearance calling the conflict between the Shiv Sena and Shah Rukh Khan a publicity stunt, has put him in the ‘block’ list of many important cell phones in Mumbai. Predictably, Priyan pleads innocence. "I was quoted out of context. I’d never speak like that about Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar. They’ve both been very nice to me. If I’ve hurt either of them I apologize to them publicly, and would like to add that in any conflict between filmmakers and politicians I’d naturally and inevitably support my own fraternity." Priyadarshan wanted to call his new film with Ajay Devgn, Bipasha Basu and Akshaye Khanna Ishaq. In fact he had all but finalized the title when to his horror Priyan found out that a film entitled Ishqiya is already out. "Vishal Bhardwaj beat me to it!" laughs Priyan. "He took the title Ishqiya. And once that was out, there was no point in calling my film Ishaq. So we’ve named it Garam Hawa after M S Sathyu’s classic." Priyan hopes to live up to the title of Sathyu’s film. "I’m not such a bad filmmaker, you know. If I’m the director of De Dana Dan I’ve also made Kancheevaram."