As the remake of Amitabh Bachchanstarrer Zanjeer has run into rough weather over copyright issue, writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar insists that producer Amit Mehra does not have the right to remake, but he hopes to resolve the issue amicably.
Javed Akhtar, along with Salim Khan, sent a legal notice to Amit Mehra over the remake of the movie.
Both Javed and Salim are the writers of the 1973 film, have expressed displeasure over copyright issue.
The original Zanjeer which was produced and directed by Prakash Mehra, is now being taken over by his son, Amit who is producing the remake.
Both Javed and Salim have sent a legal notice to producers for going ahead with the remake version without consulting them.
“We have sent them a notice but we really hope they will solve it.
We hope the problem will be solved amicably.
And we can sit across the table and decide it.
If not, then we will have to take another step,” Javed said.
“He did not have the right to remake the film or to make it in any other language.
And now that they are making it in Telugu and Hindi, they have to take our permission.
Besides, they are making certain changes in the script.
We have not surrendered our moral rights to the producer, we have never done so.
So they cannot make it without our permission.” Reportedly, the writers have asked for a substantial sum for remake rights.
“Royalty is another issue, it has nothing to do with this,” Javed said.
The remake would see south actor Ram Charan reprising Amitabh Bachchan’s role and Priyanka Chopra playing Jaya Bachchan’s character.
The shooting is already underway.