'Rang Rasiya' will be released by the year end: Ketan Mehta

Mumbai: Ketan Mehta's much delayed 'Rang Rasiya', which has been ready since 2008, is expected to come out by the end of the year.

"It was stuck for three years in some kind of a dispute...but now it will come out by the end of the year," Mehta, who has just completed 'Majhi - The Mountain Man', told IANS.

He denied reprots that the film, a tribute to 19th century painter Raja Ravi Varma, was delayed due to the bold scenes picturised on the lead pair - Randeep Hooda and Nandana Sen.

"It was not because of the bold scenes. The film was passed by the censor board some three years ago. There were legal disputes, which were holding it back. Those have been lifted," he said.

Things are not easy when a film's release is halted for so long, he said.

"It is very tough. A lot of people have put their time, energy and passion into the film. But now 'Rang Rasiya' will see the light of the day," he said.

Meanwhile, the director is looking forward to the release of 'Manjhi - The Mountain Man', which stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte.