Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur recently opened up about the fate of his ambitious project Paani and revealed why the film was eventually shelved by Yash Raj Films. The film was originally set to star Sushant Singh Rajput and had already generated considerable buzz.

According to Kapur, Paani was envisioned as a futuristic story set in 2050, when the world is struggling with a severe water crisis. The film aimed to explore a dystopian future shaped by environmental challenges and social inequality.

Speaking in an interview with Lallantop, Kapur revealed that Sushant Singh Rajput had already spent months preparing for the role before the project was halted. The director shared that he had been rehearsing with the actor for six months before the production plans changed.

Kapur explained that by the time Yash Raj Films decided not to move forward with Sushant in the project, the preparation process had already been underway for quite some time. Following the decision, the filmmaker returned to the West, as Paani was the primary reason he had come to India at that time.

He further spoke about his working equation with Aditya Chopra, the head of Yash Raj Films. According to Kapur, their agreement was that Chopra would handle the business aspects of the film while he would retain complete creative control.

However, during a conversation over breakfast, Aditya Chopra reportedly expressed that he was used to being closely involved in the filmmaking process at YRF. Since Kapur preferred to maintain creative independence, Chopra felt he would not be able to oversee the project in the way he usually did.

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As a result, both sides mutually decided that Yash Raj Films would step away from producing the film.

Despite the setback, Kapur clarified that he has not abandoned the project and still hopes to bring Paani to life in the future. The film continues to remain one of the most talked-about shelved projects in Indian cinema.