Didn't think about reactions before casting Shiney: Anees Bazmee

Filmmaker Anees Bazmee, who is currently waiting for the release of his film "Welcome Back", says he did not think about all the controversy surrounding Shiney Ahuja while casting the actor.

Shiney faded into obscurity after he was accused of rape by his former domestic help.

"I do not know anything more than movie making. I thought that in the film I need him (Shiney) and he can do justice to the role. Apart from that I did not think about anything else," Bazmee told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

"I did not think about what will be the reaction... I did not think about all of that because the decisions I take are only for the films. I am a filmmaker and I do not need to think about anything more than that," he added.

The cast of the film is currently busy promoting the film minus Shiney and according to the director the "Khoya Khoya Chand" actor was not in India when the promotions for the film started.

"When we started the promotions, Shiney was not in India. He was out and he just came back. Shiney is doing his level best to promote the film. But I think that the planning for the movie promotions are done by the producer and the promotional team they decide," Bazmee said.

"Welcome Back", which is a sequel to 2007 movie "Welcome" also features John Abraham, Shruti Haasan, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar and Naseeruddin Shah in key roles.

Talking about Shiney's role in the film, Bazmee added that he would be seen playing the "spoilt" son of Naseeruddin, who plays a blind don named Wanted Bhai in the film

"I took him (Shiney) purely because there would be a demand for such a role in the film...and he did a good job," he said.