By Subhash K. Jha, IANS

Director Ram Gopal Varma has pooh-poohed rumours that Ajay Devgan asked him to change the script of "Sholay".

Devgan plays Veeru and Mohit Ahlawat Jai in this remake.

Denying the rumours Varma told IANS: "Ajay did not ask me to make changes in the script. We've worked together before in 'Company' and 'Bhoot' and there's no problem at all."

Talking about the delay in the project, he said: "It may seem like a delay because we started shooting in September. But it was meant to be shot in September."

Varma is quite optimistic about "Sholay".

"Except for Mr. Bachchan as Gabbar there's no other casting in 'Sholay' that can determine or destroy its prospects. I don't know why people seem so hell-bent to see the project go down. I'm sorry to disappoint the doomsday prophets.

"I'm wrapping it up by year-end to start 'Sarkar 2' with Amit-ji and Abhishek and then another project with Amit-ji early next year."

Varma directed Amitabh in "Nishabd".

"I don't want to sound boastful but I feel Amit-ji has given his career's best performance in 'Nishabd'. While watching the film I feel he has completely surpassed everyone's expectations, including mine."

The shooting of "Sholay" has started but Varma's search for Basanti is still on. Though Katrina Kaif has been cast to play widow Radha's role.

"Why is everyone so keen to know who'll play Basanti? Let me confess the character won't be the same Basanti as Hema-ji in the original 'Sholay'.

"This is a different 'Sholay' that will reflect a new sensibility and acontemporary reality. We can't have Gabbar Singh on a horse and a Basanti on a tonga any more. My 'Sholay' transposes the milieu and the characters to a more contemporary setting."

In fact, all the original characters may not have the same names.

A report that Karisma Kapoor may stage a comeback with Varma's "Sholay" has the enterprising director baffled.

"I've no idea where that came from. Very honestly, I haven't thought of Karisma in any film for the last five years. I don't know from where her name cropped up."

Right now the maverick director has shot 40 percent of his new film "Darling". This musical-romantic thriller stars Fardeen Khan, Bipasha Basu and Esha Deol in the main leads.

"It's not a love story. It's a romantic thriller-comedy. It's very difficult, almost impossible to define its genre. It's unique in its content and treatment. I've shot with Fardeen before. But never with Bipasha and Esha."

Varma's other directorial venture "Shiva", starring Mohit in the title role, is releasing Friday.

"I was tied up with solving my production problems. There was no control on the creative or financial level. I lost control over my projects. That's why I had stopped the release of all my films.

"Now my house is in order. I'm again ready to start releasing my films. Ram Gopal Varma production has four releases till September end. 'Shiva' is complete. 'Darling' is on the floors. I'll do a bit of shooting and then start again full force in November."