The Bollywood-style film embattled Brampton MP Ruby Dhalla wanted canned forever has arrived in Canada as DVDs, its producer and her co-star said last night.
But Charanjit "Chico" Sihra told the Sun a source in India told him earlier in the day that "pirate" copies recently arrived for distribution in Toronto and Vancouver.
And the reason for the term "pirated" being used, he said in an interview, is that his source told him the DVD version of Kyon? Kis Liye? has been altered.
Sihra said he was told what had been changed, and has not seen one of the DVD copies, but knowing of similar tactics in the industry, suggested by branding it a pirated version, "they want to make out the film had been stolen."
He'll try to get a copy of the DVD to compare it with his only copy, a VHS version "that would not transfer well. I gave them everything else.
"I'm very upset about it," Sihra said, vowing "to take legal action against the company" if the copy is of inferior quality to the original that was sold.
Made in 2003 in Hamilton, with he and Dhalla as co-stars, the story is of a man poisoning his wife to collect insurance.
Its title translates from Hindi as Why? And for Whom?
When the now-MP learned of Sihra's plans, he said she asked him not to release it.
In the story, which the Sun published first in March, Dhalla said publicity photos of her with Sihra were doctored, with her face superimposed on another woman's body, wearing clothing she never donned.
He vehemently denied any photos were changed.
Dhalla quit Wednesday as Liberal youth and multiculturalism critic after three foreign caregivers hired to care for her mother in their Mississauga home said they were overworked and underpaid, and one alleged her passport was withheld.
PROBE REQUESTED
On Friday, she and her lawyer told reporters the allegations were false and she has asked for a federal ethics commissioner to investigate to clear her.
Dhalla was targeted in a 2004 pre-election smear campaign, in which portions the film were distributed to the media and rumours of impropriety were spread in the largely Indian riding of Brampton-Springdale.
"There is nothing sexual," Sihra said.
"I want to make another movie and this is my reputation," he said. "It's a beautiful movie.'
