Subhash K Jha (DNA; September 17, 2015)

The ongoing skirmish between producer Firoz Nadiadwala and director Anees Bazmee has taken a new turn with the director accusing the producer of misrepresenting the truth about their monetary differences. Anees says, “Everybody knows about Firozbhai’s monetary battles with those who have worked with him. I am not the first director he has fought with, for asking for my fees.”

The director adds, “He claims he has paid me Rs 9 crores already. That isn’t true, and I’ve documented proof of it. He agreed to pay me Rs 11.27 crores. Out of this he actually paid me only Rs 6.64 crore. The money he owes me is Rs 4.62 cr.” Anees says he has voluntarily foregone Rs 2.6 cr. “The remaining Rs 2 crores is still owed to me. But I never wavered in my support of Firozbhai. And now this is how he feels about me just because I asked for my money?”

Regarding Firoz’s claims that Anees threatened to stop the film’s release if his dues were not cleared Anees says, “He knew it was just a threat. That’s why he didn’t pay up. No director would hurt his own project for money’s sake.”

Anees also challenges Firoz’s claims of having shot the action sequences . “If he wanted billing in the credits, it’s not my loss. It’s the poor action director Abbas Ali Moghul’s loss.” The director says he is very hurt by the allegations. “Firozbhai has forgotten that his last hit was Welcome which I directed in 2007. And now he has Welcome Back. He needs to realize who his well-wishers are.”