Kamal has been missing in action after a terrible fall from the balcony of his office that left him with a multi-fractured leg and plenty of time to brood over his delayed projects.
Fans, however, are in for more disappointment. His upcoming Vishwaroopam 2 is not releasing this week, or any time in the near future. The film is deadlocked by producer Aascar Ravi’s inability to provide the funds needed to pay the pending salaries of the film’s crew and cast.
Says Kamal Haasan, “I have six months’ post-production work left on the project. My producer Aascar Ravi was busy bringing Arnold Schwarzenegger to release a Tamil film’s music, and even busier buying rights for distribution of various films. Till he pays his dues, the film stays mine on contract.”
Kamal Haasan is willing to let go of his own fees, but not ready to forego his team’s fee. “To work ahead, the crew and cast need to be paid. I cannot, for that matter no one can, afford to let a film to release when he owes my technicians and artists so much. I am ready to let go of my fee. But I can’t let my cast and crew suffer for my idealism. Not only is it unadvisable to hold back payment, it could tantamount to sin holding back a potential success from realising its
potentials.”
The worried filmmaker-actor says he is willing to sit and discuss the matter with Ravi. “We meet regularly and there’s no indication of any animosity regarding Vishwaroopam 2. It’s just that he’s busy with other ventures. For us, it is years of hard work. For him, it’s just one more business venture. Ravi wants us to cut down on our budgets. But we cannot do that unless people are cleared of their pending salaries. This is a film, not a vegetable stall!” retorts the star.
Kamal Haasan, who is now limping back to normalcy after the fall last year, says he is not yet ready to face the camera. “I’ve been working on the post-production of my films. But for me to get back in front of the camera, I need to get rid of the limp completely.”
