What's with Ash and Sunil Shetty?

Komal Nahta

Perhaps Sunil Shetty and Aishwarya Rai's stars don't match.

How else could one explain the fact that both the films starring the pair have been so long in the making?

The two films in question, Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke and Radheshyam Seetaram, are, among the earliest films that Aishwarya had signed after her debut vehicle, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya.

The director of Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke, K Sashilal Nair opted out of the film when it was nearly 75% complete.

Since then, producer Rahul Gupta has tried out a couple of other directors in order to complete the film -- without much success.

Meanwhile, there is a ray of hope as far as the other film starring the lead pair is concerned. Radheshyam Seetaram which had been stalled for quite a while, has now changed hands, having been acquired by the N Kumar Group from the original producer Shabnam Kapoor.

The film is 50% ready and efforts are now on to complete it for a release some time next year.

That is, if Sunil Shetty and Aishwarya Rai's stars match!