I am not returning to Reliance: Amit Khanna

Mumbai woke up on Monday morning to the report that the versatile and prolific cineaste Amit Khanna was all set to “return” as chairperson of Reliance Entertainment. Amit who is one of the film fraternity’s most distinguished individuals, resigned as the company chairperson in 2000. Big news indeed—if only it was true—considering Reliance has been going through a spate of misguided movie-making decisions including lately, the 120-crore fiasco Besharam which another production company Viacom 18 had dumped as economically unviable. Reliance certainly needs a damage doctor. But Amit who has his hands full with many industry-related activities is certainly not coming back to Reliance. Says the soft spoken former chairperson of Reliance Entertainment. “I am certainly not returning to Reliance. I’ve several responsibilities and film-industry-related positions to uphold. There is no question of abandoning them. But yes, I am there to mentor the Reliance Entertainment team, which I was doing all along any way even when I resigned from the company. They (the current team at Reliance Entertainment) are my boys and girls. I am very proud of them. Even when I resigned as the company’s chairperson I was there to guide them. I’ll continue to do so now. There is no change in the status quo.” Reacting to Reliance Entertainment’s streak of boxoffice debacles Amit Khanna says, “Every company takes unprofitable decisions at one time or another. It’s no big deal.”