Pooja Entertainment back in the broil: Crew member asks, "Akshay Kumar & stars were paid, then why not us"?

Vashu Bhagnani's Pooja Entertainment is currently under intense scrutiny following allegations from crew members regarding unpaid dues. This controversy erupted after crew members took to social media to voice their grievances, bringing to light the financial issues within the production company.

Initially, Bhagnani requested that the affected crew members contact him directly and submit the necessary documents, promising payments within 60 days. However, more actors and crew members have recently come forward, revealing similar experiences of non-payment.

In an interview with Indian Express, a crew member highlighted the significant problems faced during the production of "Mere Husband Ki Biwi," which stars Arjun Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, and Rakul Preet Singh. Despite completing the film in 2022, unpaid dues have plagued the production. Focus puller CH Ravi Kumar shared that filming was initially halted due to non-payment but resumed following promises of payment from Pooja Films. 

Kumar expressed his frustration, noting that his repeated attempts to contact the production house resulted in minimal responses. After persistent efforts over several months, he received Rs 50,000, but Rs 1,06,000 remains unpaid. 

Multiple follow-up attempts were ignored, and although some crew members spoke directly with Jackky Bhagnani, who assured them that payments would be made, the situation did not improve.

Ravi Kumar questioned the fairness of the situation, asking, "All the stars were paid right? Akshay Kumar and all were given full payment, so why not us?" He hoped that the stars would speak out for the workers who make their movies possible. 

Despite the promises, the situation has worsened, with no updates on the payments. A production source mentioned that Pooja Entertainment has now requested an extension until December 2024, though there is little optimism among the crew that this timeline will be met.