Mumbai: Even as ‘Bhooth Bangla’ continues to perform well at the box office, the film has found itself at the centre of a controversy after several vendors allegedly accused the makers of pending payments and unpaid dues.
The allegations sparked discussions online, prompting the production team to respond and clarify their stance on the matter.
As per a Mid-day report, multiple vendors linked to ‘Bhooth Bangla’ have claimed that they are yet to receive their payments, despite the film performing successfully in theatres.
Claiming that the makers owe him close to Rs 30 lakh, a
vendor stated, “Payments are getting stuck for months. Once the film releases, it becomes difficult to get the money out. The 90-day invoice clearance has become a thing of the past.”
Another crew member reportedly alleged that they have been waiting for months to receive a payment of Rs 18 lakh.
The report further claimed that writer Pranjal Kriplani has sent a legal notice to producers Alok Kumar Chaubey and Sanjay Gupta, accusing them of not clearing dues amounting to Rs 50,000.
Responding to the allegations, the makers of ‘Bhooth Bangla’ denied any misconduct.
Balaji Motion Pictures, which has backed the film, maintained that all dues have been settled.
“Balaji Telefilms Limited has fulfilled all its contractual payment obligations in relation to various projects undertaken by the company,” the production house was quoted as saying to Mid-Day.
Directed by Priyadarshan, the film received mixed reviews from critics and has collected over Rs 231 crore worldwide.