Veteran film producer Vashu Bhagnani owes 33.13 lakh to Akshay Kumar starrer Mission Raniganj director

A formal complaint was lodged by Tinu Suresh Desai on March 19, 2023, with the Indian Film & Television Director’s Association (IFTDA).

Veteran film producer Vashu Bhagnani is currently embroiled in controversy over unpaid dues amounting to over ₹65 lakh to crew members who worked on three of his films. This issue has been brought to light by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). The president of FWICE, BN Tiwari, highlighted that Bhagnani's production house, Pooja Entertainment, owes a significant amount to various individuals and workers involved in these projects.

Among the films involved is the 2023 disaster thriller Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue, directed by Tinu Suresh Desai and headlined by Akshay Kumar and Parineeti Chopra. According to FWICE, Bhagnani owes over ₹33.13 lakh to Tinu Suresh Desai for his directorial work on "Mission Raniganj." Additionally, the production house owes ₹31.78 lakh to over 250 set workers who were part of the crew for "Mission Raniganj," "Tiger Shroff's Ganpath (2023)," and "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024)" starring Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff.

A formal complaint was lodged by Tinu Suresh Desai on March 19, 2023, with the Indian Film & Television Director’s Association (IFTDA). Desai stated that he had worked on "Mission Raniganj" from February 2022 to October 6, 2023, which was the release date of the film. According to the contract, Desai was supposed to receive ₹4,03,50,000 for his work, but he has only received ₹3,70,36,092 so far.

The FWICE President further elaborated that despite multiple letters and follow-ups with Pooja Entertainment, the payments have been delayed. The company initially sought time to pay, citing the wedding of Jackky Bhagnani as a reason for the delay in an email dated February 20, 2024, to IFTDA. However, there was no subsequent response from Pooja Entertainment regarding the payment.

After FWICE sent a letter in March 2024, Pooja Entertainment again requested more time, stating they would clear the dues after the release of their film Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. Despite these assurances, the payment was not made. The FWICE President criticised the excuses made by Pooja Entertainment, pointing out the luxurious lifestyle led by the company’s executives while delaying payments to workers.

The delay in payments has had significant repercussions on the workers. About 200 to 250 workers who are part of the Film Studios Setting & Allied Mazdoor Union are yet to receive payment totalling ₹31,78,327 from Pooja Entertainment. The workers belong to various departments such as set department, light men, and spot boys. Rakesh Maurya, a union leader, claimed that there are about 48,000 daily wage workers in different departments who are affected by this issue.

The situation has led to a standoff, with FWICE warning that if the dues are not cleared by the end of July, the workers will refuse to work on any of Bhagnani's future projects. FWICE General Secretary Ashok Dubey emphasised that it has been a significant period since the release of the films Mission Raniganj, Ganapath, and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, yet the workers' payments are still pending.

In response to these allegations, Bhagnani stated that people claiming dues from Pooja Entertainment need to engage in a conversation with the banner. However, this statement did not address the specific delays and the reasons behind them.

Pooja Entertainment, a notable name in the Indian film industry, has produced several hit films in the past, including "Coolie No. 1," "Hero No. 1," "Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan," "Kuchh Kaha Na Hai," "Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein," "Om Jai Jagadish," and "Shaadi No. 1." Despite their successful track record, the recent releases from Pooja Entertainment have not fared well at the box office, which might be a contributing factor to the current financial strain.