Jackky And Vashu Bhagnani File Complaint Against Ali Abbas Zafar, Allege Extortion And Blackmail

Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff starrer Bade Miyan Chote Miyan was released on April 11 but faced disappointing results at the box office. This action sci-fi movie, produced by Pooja Entertainment, has now sparked controversy. Recently, Vashu Bhagnani and his son Jackky Bhagnani, the owners of Pooja Entertainment, lodged a complaint against director Ali Abbas Zafar. They alleged that the Bharat maker misappropriated subsidy funds received from the Abu Dhabi authorities during the film's production. The complaint was submitted on September 3, and the Bandra Police in Mumbai is expected to summon Ali Abbas Zafar soon.

Vashu Bhagnani and his son Jackky filed a complaint against Ali Abbas Zafar

In their complaint, Bhagnanis reportedly accused the director of defrauding him of ₹9.50 crore and charged him with various offences, including coercion, criminal breach of trust, extortion, blackmail, intimidation, harassment, criminal defamation, and money laundering. These allegations arise from their collaboration on the film Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (BMCM).

The complainant claims that the Bloody Daddy director and his team misrepresented their firm and mishandled the film's production, resulting in considerable financial losses. They allegedly inflated budgets, received kickbacks, created false invoices, and diverted funds through a shell company based in Abu Dhabi. Reports indicate that Bhagnani asserts the accused mishandled contracts, failed to provide accurate financial records, and requested payments that were not approved. These accusations, along with claims of extortion and defamation, prompted Bhagnani to pursue legal action.

Ali Abbas Zafar claims that Bhagnani owes his fees

Earlier today, reports swirled that Ali Abbas Zafar has also claimed that the production house owned by the Bhagnanis owes him ₹7.30 crore for directing Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. The director has reportedly filed an official complaint with the Directors’ Association, requesting their intervention. Following this, the Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE) sent a letter to Vashu Bhagnani, seeking clarification regarding the unpaid fees.

In response, Pooja Entertainment rejected Zafar’s claims, stating that the amounts he cited do not represent valid claims and are subject to various deductions, as indicated by BMCM Films Ltd. Subsequently, FWICE requested that Zafar provide evidence to support his allegations of unpaid fees.

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan cast and crew still have not received their pay

The controversy comes at a time when Pooja Entertainment has been facing multiple challenges. As per reports, In June, several crew members of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan accused the production house of delaying their payments. One crew member, Ruchita Kamble, took to Instagram to share a lengthy post, urging others to avoid working with the company. 

Additionally, BN Tiwari, president of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), stated that Vashu Bhagnani owes more than ₹65 lakh to the crew members involved in three of his films: Mission Raniganj, Ganapath, and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.