Bloated budget, stalled shoot: Long-in-the-works 'Bhaiyyaji Superhitt' nears completion

Almost five years since it was announced in 2011, it seems the Sunny Deol-Preity Zinta starrer Bhaiyyaji Superhitt will finally see the light of day. However, this is after the film has gone way over budget, to the detriment of producers Fauzia Arshi and Mahendra Dhariwal. In June 2015, it was reported that the action comedy, which also stars Ameesha Patel and Arshad Warsi, was back on track after being stalled for a long time due to production issues. However, it was another year before shooting resumed. [caption id=“attachment_2762632” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Bhaiyyaji Superhitt[/caption] An industry insider reveals that the “production issue” that seemingly delayed the film was actually the difference in budget calculations between the makers and the director Neeraj Pathak. “The makers had a set budget but the director asked to double it. Owing to this long-standing dispute, the film stalled,” said our source. No measures could, however, save the film from going over budget. When contacted, Fauzia Arshi revealed that they had to increase the budget to ensure the grubstake. “We have to complete the film as a lot of money is at stake for the film. We had to increase the budget. Of course we didn’t double it to meet the demand, but we had to increase it by 40 per cent. Mahendra Dhariwal agreed to increase the budget just to complete the film,” said Arshi. The makers didn’t have to compromise with the storyline in this rigmarole of completing the film and have even managed to retain Sunny’s look in the film after four years. “We haven’t changed the storyline at all. Sunny had a completely different look in the film and he has a double role. We have designed it in such a way that the audience shouldn’t feel cheated,” said Arshi. The film is on its last schedule and if required, an additional 10 days of shooting may be required before the film can be wrapped completely. The makers are avoiding any undue publicity ahead of time, to ensure there no unwarranted complications. “This film has loads of challenges. I am avoiding any publicity as of now so that there is no complication before the release,” she said.