Smriti Irani opts out of All is Well

Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani has opted out of filmmaker Umesh Shukla's All is Well due to time constraints.

The Abhishek Bachchan-Asin starrer featured Irani opposite industry veteran Rishi Kapoor.

The decision to opt out was mutual and amicable, she said.

Irani, a Rajya Sabha MP had commenced shooting for the film in November last year.

However, the shoot could not be concluded within the stipulated time frame although the actress-turned politician tried to work around her schedule but it did not work out.

"It is really sad but I had to take this decision of opting out of the project as I have a larger role to play and have a duty towards our nation. The nation has expectations from me and this Government, which I will fulfill. The people of India have put their faith in us and I will not let them down.

"I understand the team has to make accommodations due to

my departure and for that I am extremely grateful to them.

I tried to rework my schedule and shoot every weekend which my co-stars graciously agreed to as well, but for logistical reasons that did not materialise," she said in a statement.

Irani was inducted in the Union Cabinet as Minister for Human Resource Development in May this year and has since then tried her best to complete the project but had to bow out of the film due to her political commitments.

The film's producer Bhushan Kumar said she was generous enough to work out her schedule to shoot with us.

"We completely understand her duties towards the cabinet and the nation and are in complete agreement that she has a larger responsibility to fulfill."

Fresh shooting for the film will commence from January next year and the film will release on July 3, 2015.

Photograph: Rediff Archives