The tension between producer Vashu Bhagnani and director Vivek Sharma took an ugly turn on Wednesday.
The tension between producer Vashu Bhagnani and director Vivek Sharma took an ugly turn on Wednesday. For months, there has been talk about the growing differences between them; it ended two days ago with Vashu slapping Vivek.
A source reveals, "They've been having problems for a long time. As Vashu's son is making his sliver screen debut, he didn't want to compromise in any department and has been spending money freely on the project. The director apparently decided to take advantage of Vashu's spending spree and tried to make money off it."
The source further adds, "Vashu signed Vivek for Rs 61 lakh, right after he made Bhoothnath. He'd been paid most of the amount (only Rs 10 lakh was due), which the director was to receive around the time of the film'srelease.
But on Wednesday afternoon, Vivek went to Bhagnani's office along with his legal counsel and served him a notice for a balance payment of Rs 40 lakh! He claimed that the producer had signed him for Rs 91 lakh and now that the movie was to release on June 12, the money was due to him."
The scene...
The producer who has been running from pillar to post trying to release his son's film, tried to reason with Vivek and his lawyer. Says the source, "He told them that he made over 30 films as a producer and never in his wildest dreams would he think of paying almost a crore to a flop director.
After this, Vivek got aggressive and started screaming and making a scene. Vashu lost his temper and slapped Vivek and told him that he would drop his name from the credits of the film if he didn't come to his senses."
Association of Motion Pictures & TV Programme Producers (AMPTPP) has also received a CC-ed copy of the legal notice. Monica, the secretary of the association confirms this, "We have indeed received a letter from the legal team representing Vivek Sharma against Puja Entertainment and it is being processed. Mostly an emergency meeting will be called to resolve this matter as soon as possible."
Vashu Bhagnani says, "I would not like to comment on this."
Says Vivek Sharma, "I am going to expose Vashu and the myth that he is a wonderful producer. I am dragging him to court but I had no other option." About the slapping incident, he says, "These are just rumours."
