Bhooth Bangla row: Ektaa Kapoor says no vendor payments are pending
Balaji Telefilms has denied allegations that vendors from Bhooth Bangla are awaiting payments. The clarification came after reports and vendor accounts claimed dues remained pending for months.
Balaji Telefilms Limited has denied allegations of unpaid dues linked to the film Bhooth Bangla, saying it has fulfilled all its contractual payment obligations for the project. The clarification came in response to recent media reports and social media posts that claimed vendors associated with the film were still awaiting payment.
In an official statement, the production house said there are no unpaid contractual dues and that nothing further is due and payable to any vendors engaged for the film for services rendered by them. Balaji Telefilms also said it holds its partners, vendors and creative teams in high regard, fulfils its contractual obligations and maintains high standards of corporate governance.
The statement comes even as Bhooth Bangla, starring Akshay Kumar, continues its run in theatres. According to a report by Mid-day, several vendors had alleged that the makers, backed by Ektaa Kapoor and her banner Balaji Motion Pictures, had not cleared pending payments. The report said the production company owed nearly Rs 30 lakh in unpaid fees.
The allegations surfaced shortly after Kapoor thanked Priyadarshan for delivering the biggest hit of her career after the film crossed the Rs 200 crore mark at the box office. Vendors quoted in the report said they had been waiting for almost six months for their dues to be cleared. One vendor said, "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."
Here's Ektaa's post:
Another vendor, who was allegedly awaiting Rs 18 lakh, said delayed payments were becoming a common issue in the industry. A crew member was also quoted as saying, "Top talent and key vendors are prioritised when it comes to payment. The crew is asked to wait."
Balaji Telefilms, however, rejected the allegation of non-payment. In its statement, the company said it had fulfilled all its contractual payment obligations in relation to the film and that no further payments were pending to any vendor engaged for Bhooth Bangla.
Before Bhooth Bangla, the issue of non-payment had also surfaced around Tu Yaa Main. Nikhil Pai, who worked as the second camera operator, had asked producer Aanand L Rai's Colour Yellow Productions to clear pending bills. Tagging the production house on Instagram Stories, he wrote, "Congratulations on the theatre and Netflix release. Please clear the invoices. It's beyond due... if you reply to calls and emails that would be much appreciated." The thriller, starring Adarsh Gourav and Shanaya Kapoor, released in theatres on February 13 before arriving on Netflix in India.
For now, Balaji Telefilms has maintained that all contractual dues linked to Bhooth Bangla have been cleared, even as reports and vendor accounts have alleged otherwise.
Balaji Telefilms Limited has denied allegations of unpaid dues linked to the film Bhooth Bangla, saying it has fulfilled all its contractual payment obligations for the project. The clarification came in response to recent media reports and social media posts that claimed vendors associated with the film were still awaiting payment.
In an official statement, the production house said there are no unpaid contractual dues and that nothing further is due and payable to any vendors engaged for the film for services rendered by them. Balaji Telefilms also said it holds its partners, vendors and creative teams in high regard, fulfils its contractual obligations and maintains high standards of corporate governance.
The statement comes even as Bhooth Bangla, starring Akshay Kumar, continues its run in theatres. According to a report by Mid-day, several vendors had alleged that the makers, backed by Ektaa Kapoor and her banner Balaji Motion Pictures, had not cleared pending payments. The report said the production company owed nearly Rs 30 lakh in unpaid fees.
The allegations surfaced shortly after Kapoor thanked Priyadarshan for delivering the biggest hit of her career after the film crossed the Rs 200 crore mark at the box office. Vendors quoted in the report said they had been waiting for almost six months for their dues to be cleared. One vendor said, "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."
Here's Ektaa's post:
Another vendor, who was allegedly awaiting Rs 18 lakh, said delayed payments were becoming a common issue in the industry. A crew member was also quoted as saying, "Top talent and key vendors are prioritised when it comes to payment. The crew is asked to wait."
Balaji Telefilms, however, rejected the allegation of non-payment. In its statement, the company said it had fulfilled all its contractual payment obligations in relation to the film and that no further payments were pending to any vendor engaged for Bhooth Bangla.
Before Bhooth Bangla, the issue of non-payment had also surfaced around Tu Yaa Main. Nikhil Pai, who worked as the second camera operator, had asked producer Aanand L Rai's Colour Yellow Productions to clear pending bills. Tagging the production house on Instagram Stories, he wrote, "Congratulations on the theatre and Netflix release. Please clear the invoices. It's beyond due... if you reply to calls and emails that would be much appreciated." The thriller, starring Adarsh Gourav and Shanaya Kapoor, released in theatres on February 13 before arriving on Netflix in India.
For now, Balaji Telefilms has maintained that all contractual dues linked to Bhooth Bangla have been cleared, even as reports and vendor accounts have alleged otherwise.
