EXCLUSIVE: Rajeev Khandelwal opens up on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Chenab Gandhi got shelved after waiting for 9 months; shares he didn’t receive the signing amount

Actor Rajeev Khandelwal who was previously seen in Dharma Productions’ Showtime revealed that a movie was shelved overnight after waiting for months. In an exclusive chat with Bollywood Bubble’s Let’s Talk podcast, Rajeev revealed that he had signed a movie titled Chenab Gandhi which was going to be produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The movie also starred Amitabh Bachchan and Vidya Balan but it got shelved after he waited for 9 months. Speaking about the same, Rajeev Khandelwal revealed despite signing the contract, he didn’t receive the signing amount.

Rajeev Khandelwal recalls how the movie got shelved after waiting for 9 months

When asked if he was removed from a project overnight. He said, “It never happened that I was part of a project and then I wasn’t taken in that project. What has definitely happened overnight is that the project I was supposed to be doing suddenly wasn’t happening anymore. After you’ve invested at least six to eight months, you’ve invested your time, and you haven’t taken on any other projects, and then you find out that the project isn’t happening. As an actor, you make a lot of calculations about which films you’ll be doing in a year.“

“You consider the project’s potential because many notable names are associated with it. I’m talking about the making of the film. You know the script is fantastic, the director is great, the DOP is excellent, and you’re sure it’s going to be a good film. And you haven’t signed anything else. In fact, you’re bound by a contract that you won’t do anything else for a year except for this film. And after waiting for six, eight, nine months, you get a call one day saying the film isn’t happening. So then you have to move on. You signed the contract; no one forced you to do it,” he continued.

He reveals signing Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film

When asked about the name of the project, the Table No. 21 actor said, “Yes, there was Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film, “Chenab Gandhi,” for which Amitabh Bachchan, Vidya Balan, and I were supposed to work together. We had signed the contract, and it was an amazing script. Vibhu Puri was directing it, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali was producing it. I waited for eight or nine months, as I mentioned earlier, knowing that the film would do really well. The script was excellent, and there was a lot of excitement. You know, you sign a contract stating that you can’t do anything else for a year, thinking it’s worth it. But when it doesn’t happen, then you have to move on.“

Shares how he didn’t receive the signing amount

He was also asked if he was at least given a signing amount for the movie. Rajeev said, “I didn’t receive the signing amount, and that was the difficulty. You signed the contract, but the signing amount didn’t come to you. But then you think, “I’m doing the film, so what does it matter about the signing amount?” And you have enough savings to get by for eight months. But when it doesn’t happen, you realise, “Now what?” So then you start doing other things. Thankfully, I didn’t get too shaken. I thought, “Okay, let’s see what happens now.”

Watch the full interview

Also read: EXCLUSIVE: Rajeev Khandelwal recalls people’s judgement on him taking ‘panga’ with Ekta Kapoor with his exit from Kahiin Toh Hoga; reveals success of Left Right Left felt a victory