By Subhash K. Jha, IANS

Rumours about his financial crunch shock veteran filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, who has recently ended his partnership with K Sera Sera productions and is right now busy setting up his new office.

'Is that what they're saying that I had to move out of my office premises because I've gone bankrupt? Please gift me a begging bowl for my birthday,' Varma said, dripping sarcasm.

Getting serious, he finally told IANS: 'I did move out of my old office. It was a rented place. As I had parted ways with K Sera Sera and needed a much larger office to plan and execute various films that I am planning with my new partners, I've bought a new office in Oshiwara.

'The interior designing will take at least three years. Till then, I'm operating from various rented offices. Earlier it was being manoeuvred from under one roof. For now, I've divided the various production works into four offices.'

Varma says this isn't an inconvenient arrangement.

'Instead of all of us being under one roof, we are all functioning from various premises, that's all.'

About rumours that he rented former protégé E. Niwas' office, Varma said: 'We had a production office right next to Niwas' office. So we all kept running into one another. It wasn't as if I've taken over his office. The new office for The Factory will be much larger.'

Varma talked candidly about his office in town but was not ready to divulge details about his parting with K Sera Sera.

'I'd rather not discuss it in public. But yes, our parting is final. I'm doing films in association with Adlabs now. My comfort level with Adlabs' Manmohan Shetty is right. We'll be collaborating over an illimitable number of films. I find Adlabs to be more professional than the people I was associated with earlier.

'I've come to a long-term arrangement with them. They'll be Ram Gopal Varma Productions' funding partners for all our films.'

Varma denies being in any kind of financial trouble.

'Such things are being said about me for many years. As long as I continue to make my films within my budget, there's no Kstion of monetary problems. People are constantly floating rumours about me. That's okay. I welcome controversies. Though I don't want to waste my time clearing the air. People can believe what they like.'