Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; May 29, 2015)

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta has moved the Bombay High Court challenging a non-cooperation directive recently issued against him. This pertains to a complaint filed by producer Vinod Bachchan with the Federation Of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) seeking refund of the signing amount for a project.

Sources say Bachchan had approached Sanjay for a project titled Delhi Ka Thug and after it was shelved, the duo agreed that Sanjay should retain the token amount of Rs 45.9 lakh as he had devoted time developing the script. But after Jazbaa — Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s comeback vehicle — started rolling, the producer sent him a legal notice claiming that the token amount was to be used for that film.

Sanjay filed a case against Bachchan for extortion and defamation with the Versova police. The latter approached the FWICE, which ruled in his favour. Bachchan says, “I am happy with the judgment. I have all the proof with me and Sanjay never turned up whenever he was summoned by the federation. I don’t have any personal agenda against him; I just want my money back.”

On his part, Sanjay has filed a case against Bachchan for fraud and extortion, suing him for Rs 4.5 crore. The hearing of the case will commence soon. Says the filmmaker, “I have filed this suit on behalf of all directors who are wrongfully cornered by scheming producers and their bully associations. We work hard and when they fail to get their project going, they ask for a refund. I am fighting to stop this nonsense once and for all. My directors’ association is standing by me. I haven’t received any directive from FWICE. In fact, I am getting threat calls from some of the members about going ahead with Jazbaa’s shoot.”

Bachchan, however, says, “As far as legal actions are concerned, I am prepared. The federation is also on my side.”

Documents related to the case are in mid-day ’s possession.