'Ek Do Teen' remake row: Never called it crass, says Tezaab director N Chandra

Critics and fans may say what they will, but when Tezaab (1988) director N Chandra was said to have dismissed the 'Ek Do Teen' remake as "crass beyond imagination", one had to sit up and take note.

Two days ago, news portal The Quint had quoted Chandra as saying, “I met Sarojji [choreographer Saroj Khan] at Sridevi’s prayer meeting. It was there that Sarojji marched up to me to tell me about it. Can you imagine how much it had upset her that she needed to vent at such a solemn occasion?

"Anyway, she came to me and said, ‘Have you seen what they are doing to our Ek Do Teen number?’ I had no clue. Sarojji told me that the makers of Baaghi 2 were doing a new version of 'Ek Do Teen'. She said she will take legal action against it.”

The report further quoted the director as saying, "I can’t believe they have done this to 'Ek Do Teen'. It’s crass beyond imagination. And Jacqueline Fernandez doing Madhuri Dixit’s number? Give me a break! It’s like turning Central Park into a botanical garden. Madhuri danced with such grace and innocence. This number is like a sex act."

Now, the director denies having said any such thing. Chandra, in fact, is all praise for the 'Ek Do Teen' remake.

"That is all false. I didn’t give any quote to anyone. It is fictitious news,“ the veteran director told Cinestaan.com. “My official quote is this song is damn good. They have done a damn good job in every department. I am very happy with it. I hope this chapter is closed now.”

Earlier, Saroj Khan, too, issued a statement through the Baaghi 2 makers saying the remake has her blessings. With that the controversy may have been laid to rest.