Hansal Mehta lashes out at report claiming Kangana is calling shots in 'Simran' editing

Mumbai: Director Hansal Mehta on Tuesday said it angered him to see his "valued friend, actor, collaborator" Kangana Ranaut's name being dragged into every gossip.

Mehta was reacting to a tabloid report that claimed the actress was unhappy with the way the first trailer of their film 'Simran' and decided to take over the editing.

"All this speculation is false, malicious and totally fabricated. I collaborate closely with my team and my actors are an integral part of that collaboration. It angers me that every time some malicious gossip has to be spread, people meaninglessly drag Kangana into their stupid machinations. She is a valued friend, actor and collaborator. Period," Mehta said in a statement.

The report also claimed that Mehta believed director Vishal Bhardwaj should have listened to Kangana's advice during the editing of 'Rangoon'.

Mehta, however, said it was malicious to bring Bhardwaj's name into the gossip as he shared a close friendship with the director.

"I'm even more hurt that some malicious person chooses to drag my relationship with Vishal Bhardwaj into this malice. Vishal is one of my dearest friends and if I am making films today it is because of him. I would never say anything that could remotely even hurt or upset somebody I love so dearly and to whom I am so grateful," he added.

Film's producer, Bhushan Kumar, said the report that Kangana was calling the shots during the editing was "completely false".

"We all work as a team and her feedback on every promo and plan is crucial. At the end, the film is a director's vision and the film campaign will stay close to that only."

'Simran' was earlier in the news when its writer Apurva Asrani accused Kangana and Mehta of depriving him of proper writing credit.