Anurag Basu's dream project Barfi starring Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and south Indian actress Ileana D'Cruz, which has been in the making for nearly 16 months now, has once again been postponed because the film's producers United Television (UTV) think the film is very dark and broody and could do with a spark. Sounds like they want to add an item number to it!

The film that has been in the making for more than three years was first delayed because lead actor Ranbir wanted to finish working in Imtiaz Ali's Rockstar. Then the film's leading lady Priyanka Chopra did not have dates and Anurag had to wait for her.

And now the inside buzz is that there is much behind-the-scenes debate over Barfi's unconventional content, so much so that producers UTV are insisting on lightening the mood of the film some more. While Anurag and Ranbir have repeatedly claimed that Barfi is not a grim and dark film, the producers still believe Ranbir's character in the film needs lightening up. A source close to the film told a Mumbai based tabloid, "Barfi, for all the claims by its makers and actors is finally about physical and emotional handicaps."

A little birdie had this to tell Desiclub, "The producers have asked Anurag to record some additional music and also shoot some light-hearted scenes featuring Ranbir and Priyanka." However, when we asked Anurag about the constant delays his film was plagued with, a rather angry Anurag said, "So many other films that have started after me, including Karan Johar's Student of the Year are not yet complete. A false perception is being created that I am taking longer to complete this film than necessary."

When asked if the producers were delaying his film because its content is too grim, Anurag answered, "They have three films lined up in August and September: Joker, Heroine and my film. It is their call in what sequence they want to release them." However, Anurag added, "There are a couple of days of patchwork shooting left. We are working on the editing, background music and post-production of the film." The new date set for the release of Barfi is September 14, so will Barfi release on that date? When we asked Anurag about it, he replied, "That is the date that UTV have told me. Now it is in their hands."

Meanwhile, Sujata Chanda of UTV had this to say, "We wanted to capitalize on the successful Rowdy Rathore pair hence we have pushed the release of Joker, starring Sonakshi Sinha and Akshay Kumar to August 31. Barfi on the other hand needed some more post-production, so the date has been postponed to September 14." Do not be surprised if you hear that UTV has decided to push an item number in Barfi!