The Gangnam Style deal with Vashu Bhagnani: The Inside Story

How on heaven and earth did Jackky Bhagnani manage the impossible ‘feet’ of getting to dance to Psy’s record-breaking South Korean dance-anthem Gangnam Style in his new film Rangrezz? Apparently buying off the rights of the original was not as easy as it seems. Doting father Vashu Bhagnani had to negotiate intensely for the song’s desi rights for months. And though Vashu is not willing to reveal the amount paid for the remake rights we have it from very reliable sources that enterprising father-producer paid approximately Rs 5 crores to get the Gangnam song for Jackky to dance to. The Bhagnanis were also not allowed to make any changes in the original song in any manner. Apparently Psy wanted to see Jackky’s dance movements before he would pass on the song. Says a source from the industry, “I was very keen to get the song myself. Then I heard Vashuji was negotiating. And the price he was willing to pay way exceeded my budget. At that price I could record 3 original Gangnam songs right here in India. In addition to the prohibitive price Jackky also had to prove his dancing skills. Psy didn’t want to pass on the song to incapable hands...or feet. If it was going to be used in a Hindi film he wanted to make sure the dancer knew what he was doing.” Apparently Psy watched Jackky do the ‘Party abhi baaqi hai’ song in F.A.L.T.U before giving the final nod to the number. While with-holding the amount paid out for the song Vashu Bhagnani reveals, “Getting the song was not easy at all. There was a constant back-and-forth of email for weeks. They had innumerable questions about how we would use the song .Yes, they did want to see who would be dancing to the number before giving us the rights.” Vashu says this has been the hardest deal for him to crack. “But it is finally worth it. I had a screening of Rangrezz for family and close friends on Sunday evening. Everyone loved it. I feel this film will take Jackky many steps ahead.”