The ongoing legal battle between Vashu Bhagnani and Jackky Bhagnani of Pooja Entertainment, and director Ali Abbas Zafar, over the production of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, has intensified. The Bhagnanis filed a complaint at Bandra Police Station on September 2, 2024, accusing Zafar and his associates—Himanshu Mehra, Ekesh Ranadive, and others of severe financial misconduct. The charges include fraud, misappropriation of funds, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering. The complaint alleges that Zafar and his team mismanaged the production, inflated the budget, fabricated invoices, and siphoned off funds through a shell company in Abu Dhabi, causing significant financial damage.
The Bhagnanis claim that Zafar and his associates failed to fulfill contractual obligations, misrepresented their capabilities, and demanded unauthorized payments, leading to severe losses. The producers are also pursuing legal action for extortion, coercion, and defamation.
In response, Ali Abbas Zafar has countered with claims that Pooja Entertainment owes him ₹7.30 crores, which he says is the unpaid fee for directing the film. This dispute has added another layer to the growing tension.
Complicating matters further, in June 2024, several crew members voiced grievances against Pooja Entertainment, accusing them of not clearing payments on time. One crew member, Ruchita Kamble, publicly criticized the production house on Instagram, urging others to avoid working with them. Additionally, BN Tiwari, president of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), has accused Vashu Bhagnani of owing over ₹65 lakh to crew members from Mission Raniganj, Ganapath and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.
This conflict is escalating, with both sides locked in accusations of financial impropriety, and it has drawn widespread attention within the industry.
