Bollywood showman, Subhash Ghai's directorial venture Black & White, a film based on terrorism, was initially supposed to be directed by Madhur Bhandrakar.

Apparently, Madhur, after signing the film and finalising the script, opted put half-way because of creative differences with Ghai. According to sources, Mukta Arts had indeed signed Madhur to direct a film for them. The director had liked the concept and the story written by Varon BK Sharma. Madhur then asked Varon to meet Ghai, who too liked the story and agreed to work on the project. However, after a couple of sittings, Madhur and Ghai had a couple of creative differences and Madhur opted put of the film. But Ghai loved the subject so much that now, five years down the line, he took it up again and has made a film. Writer Varon BK Sharma confirms that he had narrated the story to Madhur first, right after 9/11. He said that he was very thrilled that a director of his caliber had liked his story. But he confesses to being unaware of why there was difference of opinion between Ghai and Madhur. He recalls how five years after the project was dumped, he suddenly saw the film's promos and realized that the story is his. He approached Ghai, who was gracious enough to give him credit in the titles and even paid him his dues. Ghai confirms that Madhur was initially to direct Black & White. However, he says that Madhur wad offered a lot of money after Chandni Bar and chose to move out of Mukta Arts. He says that Madhur did not show much interest in the film and since he (Ghai) personally loved it, he went ahead and bought the story from him.