Vijay Raaz has been officially removed from the cast of ‘Son Of Sardaar 2’, sparking conflicting narratives from both the actor and the film’s producer, Kumar Mangat. The removal of Raaz, following Sanjay Dutt’s earlier exit due to visa complications, has marred the production of the Ajay Devgn-starrer, which is currently being shot in the UK.
According to Kumar Mangat, the decision to remove Raaz was driven by the actor’s unprofessional conduct, demanding behavior, and lack of cooperation. In an interview with Pinkvilla, Mangat explained, “Yes, it is true that we have removed Vijay Raaz from the film because of his behavior on the sets.” He detailed multiple instances of Raaz’s unreasonable demands, including exorbitant payments for his spot boy and requests for premium accommodations.
“He demanded that his spot boy be compensated Rs 20,000 per day, which is more than any major actor. Considering the high costs in the UK, all cast and crew were given standard rooms, but Raaz insisted on premium suites. When we tried to explain the financial constraints, Raaz was dismissive and responded rudely. His constant refrain was, ‘You approached me; I didn’t come to you asking for work.’ His behavior became increasingly problematic. He even demanded two cars for his three-person staff,” added Mangat.
However, Vijay Raaz offers a completely different perspective on the matter. According to Raaz, his dismissal was rooted in a failure to greet Ajay Devgn on the first day of shooting. “I arrived early and saw Ajay Devgn from a distance. He seemed busy, so I didn’t approach him. Shortly afterward, Mr. Mangat came to me and said, ‘You can leave the film, we are removing you,'” narrated Raaz.
Addressing the accusation of demanding larger accommodations, Raaz argued that his request was modest, intended merely to practice yoga.
. “After 26 years in this industry, can’t I make such a request?” he questioned, denying any allegations of rude behavior. “The only alleged misconduct from my end is not greeting Ajay Devgn,” he asserted. Raaz emphasized that his interactions were limited to a small number of individuals and that he was removed within 30 minutes of arriving on set. “These are powerful people, and any talk of misconduct is baseless,” he said.
Kumar Mangat, however, refuted Raaz’s claims, stressing that the decision was not taken lightly, as it involved a significant financial loss of Rs 2 crore. “His behavior was a significant area of concern,” reiterated Mangat.
Adding another layer of controversy, Mangat disclosed that a member of Raaz’s team had been accused of sexual harassment by a hotel employee. “We received an official email from the hotel regarding this issue. Strict action will be taken against all offenders. We are relieved to dissociate ourselves from Vijay Raaz and do not wish to work with him in the future,” stated Mangat.
In reply, Raaz distanced himself from the harassment allegations, arguing that there was a considerable time difference between his dismissal and the alleged incident. “I was removed from the film on August 4 at 2 pm, while the hotel incident took place later that night, at 11 pm,” he clarified. Raaz also revealed that he had severed ties with the spot boy involved in the incident.
‘Son Of Sardaar 2’ is the sequel to the 2012 film ‘Son of Sardaar,’ which featured Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi Sinha, and Sanjay Dutt in leading roles. The sequel casts Mrunal Thakur opposite Ajay Devgn, with Ravi Kishan stepping in for Sanjay Dutt and Sanjay Mishra replacing Vijay Raaz.
As production progresses, the fallout from these events casts a shadow over the film. Both Raaz and Mangat remain firm in their divergent accounts, leaving the industry and fans to speculate on the true sequence of events that led to Raaz’s controversial exit. While the filmmaking process continues in the UK, the repercussions of these disputes are likely to resonate until the film’s release.
