Madhur Bhandarkar faces setback after 'Heroine' script is stolen

Writer Niranjan Iyengar's script for Heroine has been stolen.

His laptop was apparently taken from his car, which was parked in the car park beneath friend Karan Johar's office. The writer panicked and went straight to the Khar police station.

Confirming the news, Iyengar told the Mumbai Mirror: "My laptop was stolen. All the dialogues of Heroine were stored in it. I have lodged a FIR (First Information Report) at Khar police station. Let's hope I get it back but I think that the chances are slim."

The writer had been visiting his friend Johar to plan the itinerary for the Jammu and Kashmir schedules of Johar's film Student Of The Year. However, with the script for Heroine stolen, the writer will not be able to accompany the crew on their trip.

"I generally go on the sets of most of my films, but ab kya karten?" said Iyengar. "Now I need to be on the set of Heroine and rewrite the dialogues. I don't have the entire backup.

"I had emailed a chunk of it to Madhur [Bhandarkar], so that part is retained. But now, the remaining will have to be quickly rewritten."

Speaking about the stolen script, Bhandarkar said: "Iyengar has consented to be on the set of Heroine. I am very thankful to him. Whatever happened is very unfortunate."

When asked whether he will be able to restore the same words, Iyengar said: "Those lines are in my head. There is no reference point though."

The film has faced obstacles since the original actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was dropped from the film after falling pregnant.

Kareena Kapoor has since been cast in the lead role.