Shashilal Nair apologises The tussle between the filmmaker and actress Manisha Koirala comes to a head at court

Shashilal Nair, producer-director of controversial film Ek Chhotisi Love Story, tendered an unqualified apology in Mumbai High Court in response to a suo motu contempt notice issued against him and actress Manisha Koirala for taking their dispute to a third party for settlement despite the matter being subjudice.

Justices R M Lodha and Dilip Bhosale, however, have not accepted the apology so far, as they wanted to hear the actress on a similar contempt notice issued against her.

On a plea by lawyers Vijay Thorat and Satish Maneshinde, the court exempted Manisha from appearance today. She had been admitted to a hospital after meeting with an accident recently during a film shoot. She will now have to file an affidavit on October 10. The actress had earlier filed a plea to delete objectionable scnes in the film, which the judges adjourned for October 17.

Manisha and Nair are now said to be working on a proposal for settlement. Their lawyers informed the judges that a proposal in this regard was under consideration. Nair said he was extremely sorry for taking his dispute to a third person and, in doing so, he had no intention to undermine the authority of the court.

Nair's counsel V R Manohar and Janak Dwarkadas said his client was not justifying his action, which had attracted contempt but tendering an unqualified apology.

PTI