Rakeysh Mehra can't thank Kiran Rao enough

Mumbai, March 29 (IANS) Rakeysh Mehra was surrounded by super-efficient women during the making of 'Dilli 6' - Aamir Khan's wife Kiran Rao and Mehra's own editor-wife Bharathi.

His favourite story is about how Kiran Rao came to the rescue of 'Dilli 6' at the moment of a grave crisis.

'My first assistant director (AD) who has her family in the US had a family crisis and had to leave immediately. There we were, without a first AD with 22 actors on location in Jaipur. News about our crisis spread fast and Kiran immediately offered to come to Jaipur to serve as First AD. She got to know on Sunday morning and by Sunday evening she was in Jaipur sorting everything out. This is the spirit in which 'Dilli 6' has been made,' Mehra told IANS.

On his wife's contribution, the director of the massive hit 'Rang De Basanti' (RDB) , said: 'I've now left 'Dilli 6' to her. She's now trying to make sense of my nonsense.'

'Seriously I've a great team on board for 'Dilli 6'. The childlike enthusiasm of the whole team, including my cinematographer Binod Pradhan ('Rang De Basanti') , has to be seen to be believed.'

On reports of his losing temper and flying off the handle on the sets, Mehra says, 'I'd say I lost my temper as much as I've the right to with my own child at home. Losing my cool on the sets is a manifestation of our team effort to create something we'd all be proud of.'

Incidentally the RDB writer Rensel d'Silva was on board to write 'Dilli 6'. 'But then he got busy. And the scripting was passed on to Kamlesh Pandey. Finally it's Prasoon Joshi who has put the script in place.'

Friday March 28 was the last day of shooting for 'Dilli 6'.

But Mehra isn't holding his breath about the Friday when 'Dilli 6' will be released.

'Such pressures don't do the film any good. I'd rather work at my own pace. The film will be complete when it will be complete. Why fret about it? No, I've no date of release for 'Dilli 6'. The film will be released whenever it's ready.'

The film, which stars Abhishek Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor along with seasoned actors like Waheeda Rehman, Om Puri and Pavan Malhotra, is Mehra's autobiographical.