In the shimmering constellation of Bollywood, few things can be as gut-wrenching for a creator than to see their artistic endeavor locked away from the limelight. For over a decade, the yet-to-be-released film ‘Shoebite’ has languished behind legal barriers and shadowed disputes, with its potential unseen by adoring fans and cinema aficionados alike. However, in a surprising turn of events, the tides could be changing for this much-anticipated project helmed by director Shoojit Sircar and Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan.
At the heart of this cinematic saga sits Shailendra Singh, head of Percept Pictures Company, who has been a silent, albeit pivotal, character in the ‘Shoebite’ narrative. Back in 2007, Singh embarked on the journey with the film initially titled ‘Johnny Walker’, positioning himself as a champion of the film that would later undergo a massive transformation under the banner of UTV Motion Pictures. Singh’s discontent steered him to legally challenge the release of ‘Shoebite’ in 2012, a move that seemed to have cast an indefinite pall over the future of the movie. But, much like the dramatic twists synonymous with Bollywood plotlines, Singh has now signaled a willingness to bury the hatchet—if certain conditions are met.
Opening up a channel of reconciliation, Singh expresses his readiness not to hinder the film any longer. Instead, he calls for a transparent dialogue with the dynamic actor-director duo, Amitabh Bachchan and Shoojit Sircar. His request is simple, yet profound: acknowledgment. Singh desires recognition for the origin of ‘Shoebite’, born from the vestiges of ‘Johnny Walker’—a film that was to be his brainchild.
Singh narrates his tale with a mixture of nostalgia and regret, reminiscent of an auteur whose creation was snatched from his grip. “Johnny Walker was initiated by me. I paid a Rs 4 crore cheque to Amitabh Bachchan; at that time, he didn’t know who Shoojit was. I chose Shoojit and took him to meet Amit ji for the narration,” recounts Singh. “I spent Rs 86 lakh as Shoojit went on a 20-city recce. Yes, Amit ji later returned my money. Amit ji wanted to become its producer by getting AB Corp on board. When I rejected [the idea], they changed the movie’s name and went to Ronnie Screwvala.”
A long-time supporter of the industry, Singh highlights his generosity in past dealings, gifting titles ‘Singh Is Kinng’ and ‘Chak De India’ to Akshay Kumar and Aditya Chopra respectively, receiving credit acknowledgments as tokens of gratitude. Now, he seeks a similar gesture of goodwill for ‘Shoebite’.
As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that money or formal apologies are not the centerpiece of Singh’s desires. Instead, what he yearns for is a grand gesture of a respectful nod within the film’s opening credits, a testament to his foundational role in the film’s inception. “I don’t want money or compensation either, I just want credit. I want a big slide to come in the film’s beginning, thanking me for it,” Singh stated.
What does this mean for ‘Shoebite’ and its potential release on contemporary platforms such as OTT services? Last week, Shoojit Sircar indeed voiced his hope to see the film, which he dubs a “brilliant story,” realize its release, potentially on digital streaming platforms. With Singh now easing the longstanding blockade, the dream seems more attainable, dependent on whether this new olive branch is received with open hands.
As the trio—Singh, Bachchan, and Sircar—potentially inch closer to a resolution, the fate of ‘Shoebite’ hangs in the balance, its future shimmering with possibility. It stands as a storied testament to the complexity of creative collaborations and the indomitable spirit of cinema that seeks to touch hearts beyond the tangles of legalities and credits. Only time will tell if this decade-long limbo will dissolve into the warm glow of audience screens, bathed in the long-awaited acknowledgement of a visionary who once dreamt of a film named ‘Johnny Walker’.
