Why Kainaaz walked out of Palkhi

Step-motherly treatment

The actress believes that Cinevistaas gave her step-motherly treatment from the word go. Says Kainaaz, "I was told that I would be given as much publicity as Abhay Vakil and Karishma Tanna.

But it was exactly the opposite. I was shocked to see that I did not figure in the promos. Worse, I was not even included in the title song." In June, July and mid-August, Kainaaz was somewhat happy as she was given enough footage. But the lack of publicity, continued to torment her.

Date bait

Kainaaz says that she took these things with a pinch of salt, but when Cinevistaas started being unprofessional on dates, she had a tough time.

"In April, they said that they would need 10-15 days from me. I did not take up other assignments that came my way. But I was called for only three days. I wasted 12 days, just twiddling my thumbs."

Filmi chakkar

In May, Kainaaz informed Cinevistaas that she would be shooting for three films— Jai Prakash's Sauda, Ramsay's Ghutan and Ram Gopal Varma's Mr Ya Miss. "They said that they'd adjust and gave me some dates for that month. But then they just kept cancelling those dates," she states.

Ye kya khujli?

Kainaaz allotted mid-August to a Raj Sippy film called Khujli, but with prior notice to the serial's producers. "They asked me to extract some time from my film schedule for the serial. I agreed, par kya faida? The dates were not utilized!

Then I gave them the dates that they wanted. I came down from Sippy's shooting in Panvel and complied. I went back, after completing all the scenes I was required to do.

Then when I was in the midst of the film's shooting, creative head Chaula Shah called to say that they had replaced me. I was shocked," she says, adding, "I also learnt that they called a good friend of mine and told her that they would give her double my fee if she agreed to do my role. That she didn't accept the offer is a different story."

All for the best

We contacted Chaula to get her side of the story. Chaula blamed it on the 26/7 Mumbai deluge.

"After the floods in Mumbai, we had a few problems putting together a bank of episodes. So there have been a few changes, here and there. I have no issues with Kainaaz; I don't know why she is so upset. I understand that her priority is films, but as a production house, I cannot compromise on my show.

Daily serials don't work on fixed agenda basis, and I think that every artiste needs to understand that. If I'm not wrong, she gave some of our block dates to films."

An infuriated Kainaaz says, "I don't want to work with Cinevistaas again," adding rather sarcastically, "Whatever happens, happens for the best."