Recent revelations have brought to light the plight of crew members who allege non-payment for their work on films bankrolled by Vashu Bhagnani’s Pooja Entertainment, including the latest Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff starrer, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.
Several individuals took to social media, collaborating to share their frustrations, tagging Pooja Entertainment and its key figures—producer Vashu Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, and actor Jackky Bhagnani.
Ruchita Kamble, an assistant director known for her work on films like Raees and Zero, articulated the sentiments of many, stating, “The absolute disregard @pooja_ent has and the sheer unprofessional, unethical behaviour that we all have been tolerating for way too long.”
In response to these allegations, Vashu Bhagnani denied owing any dues in an interview with Times of India, inviting affected parties to come forward with documentation for resolution within 60 days. Despite this assurance, sentiments within the industry remain bleak, with many expressing a mix of hope and apprehension over pending payments.
Arjun Kapoor’s Film Draws Scrutiny Amid Payment Dispute
One of the films under scrutiny is Mere Husband Ki Biwi, featuring Arjun Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, and Rakul Preet Singh, where crew members claim substantial outstanding payments despite completing production in 2022.
Focus puller CH Ravi Kumar, who worked on the Mudassar Aziz-directed film, spoke with Indianexpress.com about the challenges faced due to delayed payments. He revealed that the film’s shoot had to be stopped because the crew wasn’t paid, but resumed after they received an assurance via email from Pooja Films promising payment the following month. Ravi Kumar submitted three bills for his pending payments, dated 22/11/22, 15/12/22, and 15/11/23.
“Everyone respects emails, so we agreed,” said Ravi Kumar emotionally. He recounted how he received only a partial payment after pleading for his dues when a family member fell seriously ill. However, his struggles persisted.
“The remaining amount was Rs 1,56,000. Then, I had an accident in June. I called the production contact who promised to pay but didn’t. They gave me another number, but again, no response. I was bedridden for 8 months, used up my insurance, and borrowed money for hospital bills. Even from my hospital bed, I kept calling, but I only got excuses. As a focus puller, I now struggle to find work because of my injury.”
One call eventually resulted in a payment, though not in the manner Ravi Kumar had hoped. He submitted bills, medical reports, and even sent a photo from his hospital bed. In desperation, he contacted another Pooja Entertainment payment manager.
“My department head was shooting with Akshay Kumar when I called, but the Pooja Entertainment executive was rude to me while I was in bed. That hurt me deeply. After some calls, they paid me Rs 50,000. The remaining Rs 1,06,000 is still unpaid. For someone like me, this is a huge amount. I often break down because this money could really help.”
In another instance, the direction team of an unreleased Pooja Entertainment film faced similar challenges. They were paid for five months, but salaries for the last two months—approximately Rs 7.5 lakhs—are reportedly still pending. While the exact number of affected crew members isn’t confirmed, sources estimate that the total outstanding dues across various projects amount to around Rs 2.5 crore.
“We worked on a film completed in 2022. We were promised salaries within 30 days, then delayed to June for a planned July release. Our calls went unanswered. Sometimes, we spoke directly with Jackky, who assured us. We trusted him, but with no response on payment status,” a production source shared. Pooja Entertainment has now requested until December 2024, but hope for a resolution is fading.
Pooja Entertainment Reportedly Owes Around Rs 2.5 Crore
The impact spans beyond individuals, affecting entire teams awaiting salaries owed for months of dedicated work. Reports suggest that approximately Rs 2.5 crore is owed collectively to crew members and vendors across various projects, highlighting the scale of the issue.
Efforts to address these grievances have yielded little results, with promises of delayed resolutions further exacerbating frustrations.
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