In a major controversy surrounding the Bollywood film Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, producers Vashu Bhagnani and Jackky Bhagnani have lodged a police complaint against the film’s director, Ali Abbas Zafar, accusing him of fund misappropriation. The Bhagnanis allege that Zafar siphoned off approximately ₹9.5 crore, which included subsidies granted by Abu Dhabi authorities during the film’s production. This legal battle has added to the drama surrounding the action-packed film, which stars Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff but failed to make a significant impact at the box office.
The complaint, filed on September 3 at Bandra police station, details a production nightmare in which Zafar allegedly “hijacked” control of the film’s budget and withheld critical financial information from the producers. According to the Bhagnanis, the movie’s original budget of ₹125 crore surged beyond ₹154 crore without their consent, leading to additional financial stress. Zafar is also accused of inflating costs during the Abu Dhabi shooting schedule and using a shell company to divert funds.
This isn’t the first time Pooja Entertainment, owned by the Bhagnanis, has faced accusations of financial mismanagement. Several crew members from Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and other films produced by the company, including Mission Raniganj and Ganapath, have come forward with complaints about delayed payments. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has also intervened, urging the Bhagnanis to clear outstanding dues of over ₹65 lakh owed to the production crew.
In a retaliatory move, Ali Abbas Zafar has accused the Bhagnanis of withholding ₹7.3 crore owed to him for his directorial services. The filmmaker has filed a complaint with the Directors’ Association, requesting intervention in the matter.
As this legal dispute unfolds, the future of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan remains uncertain, with both parties locked in a heated battle over finances and responsibilities. The film, despite its star-studded cast, failed to recover its massive production cost, earning only ₹59.17 crore at the box office.
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