Renowned director Ali Abbas Zafar has filed a complaint against producer Vashu Bhagnani and his production house, Pooja Entertainment, alleging non-payment of Rs 7.30 crore for his work on the 2024 film “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan”. The movie, which starred Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff, failed to impress at the box office, grossing only Rs 100 crore against a budget of Rs 350 crore.
According to reports, Zafar lodged a complaint with the Directors’ Association, which subsequently reached out to the Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE) for intervention. FWICE sent a letter to Bhagnani seeking clarification on Zafar’s claims, but Pooja Entertainment denied the allegations, stating that the dues claimed are “subject to various set-offs”.
This development is the latest in a series of financial woes faced by Pooja Entertainment. Earlier reports suggested that the production house had sold its Mumbai office to settle debts worth Rs 250 crore and laid off 80% of its staff. Additionally, FWICE president BN Tiwari revealed that Pooja Entertainment owes over Rs 65 lakh to crew members across three films, including “Mission Raniganj”, “Ganapath”, and “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan”.
Zafar has chosen not to comment publicly on the matter, reportedly to avoid further delays in payment. FWICE has requested the director to provide evidence to support his claims.
The dispute highlights the financial struggles faced by production houses in the Indian film industry, particularly when films fail to perform well at the box office. The issue also raises concerns about the payment practices and treatment of crew members and directors in the industry.
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