Over 200 Crew Members From Akshay Kumar Movies Yet To Receive Payment From Vashu Bhagnani: FWICE

Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) president BN Tiwari on Friday said veteran film producer Vashu Bhagnani owes over Rs 65 lakh to crew members who worked on three of his films “Mission Raniganj”, “Ganapath” and “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan”.

Bhagnani’s company Pooja Entertainment owes Rs 33.13 lakh to director Tinu Desai, who helmed ir 2023 film, “Mission Raniganj”, Tiwari said. movie was headlined by Akshay Kumar.

production house owes Rs 31.78 lakh to over 250 set workers who worked on movies like “Mission Raniganj”, Tiger Shroff’s “Ganpath” (2023), and Akshay Kumar and Shroff’s “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan” (2024), Tiwari added.

Bhagnani remained unavailable for comment.

In a complaint filed on March 19, 2023 to Indian Film & Television Director’s Association (IFTDA), Desai said he worked on “Mission Raniganj” from February 2022 to October 6, 2023 ( release date of film) and amount to be received as per contract was Rs 4,03,50,000 and he has only received Rs 3,70,36,092 so far.

“A written complaint was filed by director of ‘Mission Raniganj’ regarding n-payment of his dues of Rs 33.13 lakh from Vashu Bhagnani last year in March. We’ve been following up with Pooja Entertainment but still y haven’t made payment. y have said by July end y will clear dues,” Tiwari told PTI.

Desai declined to comment when contacted by PTI.

According to FWICE President, IFTDA has written multiple letters to Pooja Entertainment but y kept delaying payment.

“In February y sought time to pay citing Jackky Bhagnani’s wedding via an email dated February 20, 2024 to IFTDA and later y didn’t reply. After FWICE wrote m a letter in March 2024, y again sought time to make payment saying y would do so after release of ir film, ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’, again that has t happened,” Tiwari said.

“This is unfair what y are doing, y are leading a luxurious life, and when it comes to paying dues y are making excuses. In ir latest email, y have said y will clear dues by July end but if y don’t do so n our workers will t work on any of ir films,” he added.

About 200 to 250 workers, who are part of Film Studios Setting & Allied Mazdoor Union, are yet to receive payment of Rs 31,78, 327 from Pooja Entertainment, Rakesh Maurya, a union leader, claimed.

“re are three to four categories of workers who construct a set, y usually receive somewhere between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,400 per day. pending dues of a single worker could range between Rs 10,000 to 20,000 or more,” Maurya of Film Studios Setting & Allied Mazdoor Union, told PTI.

y have about 48,000 daily w workers in different departments like set department, lightmen, and spot boy.

FWICE general secretary Ashok Dubey told PTI that it has been a while since release of “Mission Raniganj”, “Ganapath” and “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan” but workers payment is still held up.

“ workers are helpless. artist receives money first, but t our workers. It is heartbreaking to see condition of workers in industry; y don’t have job guarantee here. Even when y get to work on a project, y don’t receive money on time. y have to wait endlessly for months to get ir hard earned money,” Dubey said.

Last week, several crew members accused Pooja Entertainment of n-payment of dues and laying off majority of its staff.

In a media statement, Bhagnani had said people claiming Pooja Entertainment is yet to clear ir dues must eng in a conversation with banner.

"If re are people who claim that we owe m money, y should come forward and talk to us. Do y have a proper contract with Pooja Entertainment? Have y filed a case regarding this? re are so many ways to sort this rar than ranting on social media,” he had said dismissing reports that his production banner was shutting down.

Dubey said workers should get payment earliest.

“In Marathi films, re’s a rule that if workers do t get ir daily ws from producers censor certificate will t be given to producers, we want same rule, he added.

Pooja Entertainment has produced hits such as “Coolie . 1”, “Hero . 1”, Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda’s “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan”, “Kucch Kehna Hai”, “Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein”, “Om Jai Jagadish”, and “Shaadi . 1”, among ors in past but ir last few releases have t worked at box office.