Bollywood actor Jackky Bhagnani’s production house, Pooja Entertainment, has been scrutinized for allegedly not paying its cast and crew members. The controversy erupted when several crew members associated with projects under Pooja Entertainment voiced their grievances, alleging that they had not received their dues for their work.
Ruchita Kamble, a crew member, took to Instagram to express her frustration, urging people not to work with the production house. Her post detailed the struggles faced by the crew in obtaining their hard-earned money, highlighting the sheer unprofessional and unethical behavior they have endured.
Source: Bollywood Hungama
The crew members revealed that they were promised payment within 45-60 working days post-completion of their work, a commitment that was not honored. This delay in payment has left the crew members grappling with financial uncertainty and hardship, despite their dedication and passion for filmmaking. The unfulfilled promises and the prolonged wait for their rightful compensation have fueled frustration and disillusionment among the crew members.
In response to the unfolding controversy, the producers have cited a lack of funds as the reason for the delayed payments. However, the sale of a film to an OTT platform and the lavish display of a destination wedding by the producers have raised questions about the allocation of resources and the prioritization of expenditures. The discrepancy between the producers’ financial constraints and their apparent discretionary spending has fueled skepticism and scrutiny.
The dispute has further escalated with claims that even the actors associated with Jackky Bhagnani’s latest production, “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,” including prominent figures such as Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Sonakshi Sinha, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, have not been paid. The actors, much like the crew, were assured payment after the film’s completion and promotion, but these promises were allegedly unfulfilled. However, the cast members have refused to comment on the matter.
The issue of delayed payments and non-payment of fees is not limited to Pooja Entertainment alone. In July 2023, Ameesha Patel took to social media to call out Anil Sharma, director of Gadar 2, and his production house, claiming that the latter did not pay certain crew members and technicians.
Industry circles have been abuzz with similar instances of non-payment to daily wage workers associated with top production houses and high-profile projects. In 2022, The Film Studio Setting and Allied Mazdoor Union took a stand against the delayed payments, issuing a non-cooperation notice against production houses that fail to clear payments beyond three months.
The voices of the crew members have brought to the forefront the challenges faced by the workforce behind the glitz and glamour of the silver screen and the imperative of addressing these systemic issues of financial accountability and unethical conduct by biggies of Bollywood.
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