The co-producer of ” Guzaarish” has justified the controversial promotional posters of the film that show Aishwarya Rai smoking a cigarette, saying it is “a creative requirement of the script”.

A letter issued by UTV Software Communications Private Limited to the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE), a tobacco vigilante organisation headquartered in Goa, has stated that Ash’s smoking act on the posters was necessary.

“The scene in which the character, played by Aishwarya Rai, is shown smoking was merely a creative requirement for the script,” UTV Software communications limited has said in a letter to an anti-tobacco organization, quoting a spokesperson.

Earlier, NOTE had demanded the ‘smoking’ posters be deleted from the promotional campaign. In a written complaint, the organisation’s general secretary Shekhar Salkar had said that the display of the posters showing Aishwarya smoking could inspire her fans to take up the ‘cancer-stick’.

“The innumerable posters and banners of ‘Guzaarish’ displayed all over Mumbai shows Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai smoking a cigarette. There would be thousands of other scenes which could be displayed to convey the storyline of the film, yet the producer has chosen this particular one, quiet oblivious to its after-effect,” Salkar said, threatening the producer and actor of the film with a legal suit.

In a written response to NOTE’s caution, UTV has also said: “We understand that as a healthcare professional, it is your prerogative to oppose any activity that may promote smoking. However, whilst we appreciate your concern, we would also like to mention that the film `Guzaarish’ is not about smoking and neither does it promote smoking in any manner whatsoever”.

Reacting to UTV’s response, Salkar said: “I have seen the film myself. There is a single scene which shows smoking incident. But the poster of the film picks and chooses the same frame in their advertisement campaign. Actually this is clandestine advertisement of a tobacco product.

“Where is the issue of showing smoking scene when the movies speaks of euthanasia,” he added.

NOTE, has in the past made actors Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgan and Vivek Oberoi among Bollywood biggies either shell out fines for their violations or dragged them to court for directly or indirectly promoting tobacco on the screen and off it.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is back in the news. The buzz is that Sanjay Leela Bhansali might cast her for his next movie after Guzaarish. The ace director jokingly referred to the topic at the film’s first look launch in Mumbai on September 23rd. Here is what happened…

Watch more: First Look Of Ash-Hrithik In ‘Guzaarish

At the first look launch, a particularly nosy reporter asked Aishwarya how she felt about having worked with both older actors (Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgan) and younger one’s (Hrithik Roshn) in each of Bhansali’s films. A miffed Ash replied that it didn’t matter whom she worked with as long as the director was okay with the casting. “I don’t know whether there was a question or a point he (the journalist) made. The fact is that most of the directors I worked with don’t get in to chronology, or statements, or sensationalizing casting,” Aishwarya said.

Immediately – the wonderful man that he is – Sanjay Leela Bhansali, came to Aishwarya’s rescue and clarified his position. “I would like to cast Aishwarya with Ranbir Kapoor also. Some people are timeless and it (their career) doesn’t just end with a decade ending.”

Then what? Aishwarya praised her favourite director to the hilt. “I have had the pleasure of working for Sanjay Leela Bhansali thrice but let me tell you that ‘Guzaarish’ is a beautiful piece of cinema,” she gushed. But we feel that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan might just be trying a little hard this time around. Although she’ll end the year with three big releases, Raavan flopped, while her film Endhiran – The Robot with superstar Rajnikant faces stiff competition from Anjaana Anjaani, which also releases on October 1st. In ‘Guzaarish’, Aishwarya plays the love interest of Hrithik, who plays a paraplegic magician.

Vipul Shah’s upcoming film Action Replayy starring Bollywood super star Akshay Kumar and gorgeous Aishwarya Rai is all set to sparkle this Diwali.

Besides the duo, the film features Neha Dhupia, Kirron Kher, Rajpal Yadav, Om Puri, Randhir Kapoor and others.

The releasing date was announced in Manali which has been scheduled for December 5.

The release of this film will clash with another big venture-Golmaal 3 that stars Ajay Devgan, Mithun Chakraborty, Arshad Warsi, Kareena Kapoor, Tusshar Kapoor and Kunal Khemu.

So it’s going to be war between the retro film and the comedy flick but the audience is going to have a great festive season this year.

Filming of Vipul Shah helmed/produced period drama, Action Replay, headlining Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai has been stalled.

Vipul Shah has terminated crew members as the project has been delayed for multiple reasons. He plans to shoot the remaining two songs with the help of director’s assistants.

“The production house handed the termination letters to the assistant directors and other crew members. Due to non-availability of dates from the lead pair, the film has been delayed. The production house was handing over the monthly checks amounting to lakhs of rupees to the crew members in spite of no shoot happening,” a source from the production unit told Mid-Day.

Earlier this month, in a statement to Mumbai Mirror Shah said three songs remained to be shot with Aishwarya but, due to a delay in Mani Ratnam’s Raavana, she is unable to give him dates.

“Yes, what you have heard is true. I need about a fortnight from Aishwarya to shoot the three songs. I’m sure she’s as eager to complete the film as I am. Unfortunately, Raavana has taken far more of her time than she had expected. Besides, she is also shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish, so I have no option, but to wait,” Vipul told MumbaiMirror on August 14.

Now Vipul does not put the blame on the lead pair’s heads but confirms the delay.

“I have given the termination letters since their contract ended. They had other projects to move on to. The delay in shoot is not because of the actors. They both are extremely co-operative and are willing to give me alternate dates. In fact, we will be shooting the song soon, probably in November.”

He acknowledges that the delay in the release of his musical drama, London Dreams, starring Ajay Devgan and Salman Khan has disrupted schedules.

“The delay in the shooting is due to my commitments to London Dreams. I was initially supposed to release the movie on August 14, but due to multiplex strike, I decided to delay it. Now that the movie is releasing October 30 and I am busy with the promotions of the same. I am not able to shoot for Action Replay,” he added.

Action Replay is a period drama set in the 1970s with the story that runs backwards in time. Both Aishwarya and Akshay have two looks in the film – contemporary and old age. For their old age look the actors have to undergo lengthy makeup schedules with Hollywood makeup artist, Paul.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the stunningly beautiful bollywood hottie who plays lead in Vipul Shah’s upcoming flick Action Replay opposite Akshay Kumar, has been rejecting music composer Pritam’s song repeatedly, thereby delaying the project.

Sources close to Vipul Shah reveal that the Bachchan bahu has already rejected Pritam’s composition for three times and has again asked him to make something special to fit the bill. In fact, the song number is to be filmed on Aishwarya Rai at the time of her entry in the film, and so she and filmmaker Vipul Shah insist that it has to be something special and not any run of the mill stuff, churned out by the music director and lyricists.

Now, music director Pritam and two lyricists Irshad and Kamil(have already written songs for Saif Ali Khan’s home production ‘Love Aaj Kal’) are starting all over again from the scratch to render the number, which can satisfy Aishwarya and Vipul Shah.

It is not for the first time that Pritam has been working with Aishwarya Rai. In fact, he was the music director of Aishwarya Rai starrer Yashraj Films’ super duper hit flick ‘Dhoom 2’, and that time Ash had no complaint against him, but this time situation is a little bit different.

The problem with ‘Action Replay’ songs are that they are based in the 1970s, and music director Pritam has been told to compose modern numbers with a retro feel to appeal to modern yuppie crowd, and this has been taking a lot of time.

The film requires seven songs in all but the trio of Pritam and Irshad-Kamil has been able to compose only three songs so far. Due to this and Vipul Shah’s busy schedule with his Salman-Ajay Devgan starrer ‘London Dreams’, the shooting of the film has already been pushed from April/May to August/September. If Pritam does not come out with a sizzling song for Aishwarya very soon, the project may get delayed further.

The lead pair of Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar will sport a 1970s look in the film. Sources say that Aishwarya Rai has been given an extraordinary look in the film, wearing a yellow-knee-length skirt for a song number. Akshay Kumar, who will be acting opposite Aishwarya Rai after Rajkumar Santoshi’s flick ‘Khakee’, which was around five years back, too, will sport a distinct look having long hair throughout the film.

The film is based on Vipul Shah’s Gujrathi play by the same name ‘Action Replay’. However, contrary to its name, the film does not have many action sequences performed by action Kumar, Akshay, or any one else.

It may be recalled that Akshay Kumar and Vipul Shah have worked together in several super duper hit films like ‘Waqt’, ‘Aankhen’, ‘Namastey London’, and ‘Singh Is Kinng’, and so have terrific working chemistry with each other.

The mega budget film will also see the return of veteran actor Randhir Kapoor to big screen, playing a scientist in this time- travel- tale. He was last seen in ‘Armaan’ in year 2001.

Hello hello my marmalade toasties! How is the bright and sunny Saturday morning treating you? It’s treating me very, very fine, as it usually does. I’ve woken up early and done with my kasratbaazi, bubblebath and continental breakfast too.

Reason: I’m flying off to Goa where my chahita Ajay Devgan has invited me for a dekko of his next production, All The Best, helmed by his protégé Rohit Shetty. Of course, I’ll get some chatpati khabars for you from there, but for now, here’s your dose of daily goss.

Oi oi.. what is this I’m hearing subah subah now? A birdy from Bandra has just dropped in to tell me that some people were complaining about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Huh? Ab kya hua, I demand to know, pronto.

Tweety informs me that on Thursday evening, Ash’s vanity van was parked in a small lane near Café Basilico on Pali Hill, causing a traffic jam. When the janta janardhan found out it was Ashji’s van, they complained to the driver to move the van as it was blocking the road, but to no avail.

Turns out that while Ash was shooting near Lilavati Hospital, her vanity van was parked in Pali Hill. And during  breaks, she would drive in her own gaadi to rest in her van.. till it would be time for the next shot. Really.. why couldn’t the production guys arrange for a parking spot for the van near the shooting location, wonders my birdy. Hmm, sochnewali baat to hai.