The crew members of the highly anticipated film ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ have rallied behind director Ali Abbas Zafar amidst allegations of financial misconduct. This controversy has sparked significant discussion in the entertainment industry, with members of the film’s team taking to social media to voice their support for Zafar and discredit the accusations.
**In Pic: Ali Abbas Zafar.**
This issue came to the forefront when Ali Abbas Zafar himself filed a complaint against the film’s production house, Pooja Entertainment, citing non-payment of dues. In swift retaliation, Pooja Entertainment counter-accused Zafar, his partner Himanshu Mehra, and finance head Ekesh Ranadive of embezzling subsidy funds granted by Abu Dhabi authorities during the shoot of the film. This allegation has cast a shadow over the otherwise reputable track record of Zafar and his team.
**Crew Members Speak Out**
The immediate reaction from the ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ crew was one of strong defense for Zafar, rejecting the claims made by Pooja Entertainment. Khalid, who worked as an actor on the film, candidly shared his own struggles regarding payment issues with the production house. Khalid described his ordeal of “begging” Pooja Entertainment for his payment, revealing that assurances from actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani went unfulfilled, and eventually led to Bhagnani blocking his communications.
“In such a situation, it was only the team at AAZ Films who would always answer the calls and reassure me that I would be paid. The team at AAZ Films paid us and cleared our dues,” Khalid affirmed, underscoring the reliability of Zafar’s team.
**Action Director Parvez Shaikh**
Action director Parvez Shaikh was among the first to firmly rebut the allegations against Zafar. “The accusation on @AAZFILMS is completely baseless. I have been working with Ali Abbas Zafar since 2014 and have never faced any issues with payment. They are people of their word when it comes to business,” he stated. Shaikh went on to express gratitude towards Zafar and Mehra, highlighting that after the release of the subsidy from Abu Dhabi, his dues were settled promptly.
.
However, Shaikh also uncovered another layer to the situation, lamenting that his expensive equipment used during the London shoot of ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ was yet to be returned by the studio. He pointed out further delays with Pooja Entertainment regarding payments for another project, ‘Eagle’, which remains settled to this date.
**Editorial Delays**
Film editor Steven Bernard also vocalized his support for Zafar, narrating his own frustrating wait for payment. Bernard detailed a poignant account of his father’s hospitalization and the subsequent financial strain he faced. Despite continuous follow-ups with the production house, it was only the intervention and assistance from AAZ Films that eventually led to the clearance of his dues.
**Bosco Martis and Collective Testimonies**
Celebrity choreographer Bosco Martis reportedly had his dues settled from the Abu Dhabi subsidies as well. In addition, numerous Heads of Departments (HODs) and assistants echoed these sentiments, sharing their experiences on social media to fortify the defense for Ali Abbas Zafar.
**Industry Bodies Step In**
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has also taken a stance in this unfolding saga, highlighting significant outstanding payments owed by filmmaker Vashu Bhagnani to crew members across three films, including ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’. The federation stressed repeated reminders to the production house have not resulted in cleared dues. FWICE president B.N. Tewari and IFTDA president Ashoke Pandit are actively monitoring the situation.
Adding another dimension to the financial disputes, Vashu Bhagnani publicly accused streaming giant Netflix of non-payment of dues. In response, Netflix has labeled these claims as unfounded, further complicating the financial entanglements associated with the production house.
As allegations and defenses continue to fly back and forth, the entertainment community remains observant, keenly watching how this dispute will unfold. The support pouring in for Ali Abbas Zafar from the ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ crew not only puts his reputation into focus but raises broader questions about financial fairness and accountability within the film industry.
