Actor-filmmaker Raghava Lawrence, who was recently signed to direct the Akshay Kumar-led Hindi horror comedy, Laxmmi Bomb, has opted out of the project as he "felt disrespected".
Laxmmi Bomb is the remake of the highly successful Tamil horror-comedy Muni 2: Kanchana (2011), which was directed by Raghava Lawrence, who also starred in the film.
Less than a month after the project went on the floors, Lawrence decided to exit it after the makers unveiled the film's first look on Saturday without his knowledge.
"There is an old popular saying in Tamil which says, 'Don't step into any house where there is no respect'. In this world, more than money and fame, self-respect is the most important attribute to a person's character. So I have decided to step out of the project Laxmmi Bomb, the Hindi remake of Kanchana," Lawrence wrote in a note he posted on his Twitter page.
The popular actor-director said there were multiple reasons for his exit, "but one of them is that the first-look poster of the film was released without my knowledge and even without discussing anything with me. I was informed about this by a third person. It is very painful for a director to know about his movie's first-look release from others."
Lawrence wrote that he felt 'disrespected' and was 'disappointed'. "As a creator, I'm also not satisfied with the poster design (of the first look) as well. This shouldn't happen to any director. I can hold back my script because I haven't signed any agreement regarding this film, but I won't do it because I personally respect Akshay Kumar sir a lot," Lawrence said.
The director said the makers can find a replacement for him. He will soon meet Akshay Kumar and hand over the script and step out of the project in "a good way".
In Laxmmi Bomb, Akshay Kumar plays a character that is possessed by a ghost of a transgender person. Kiara Advani has been signed on as the leading lady for the film, which is scheduled for release on 5 June 2020.