Taapsee Pannu was quite gung ho about her debut big-screen production Dhak Dhak, co-produced by Viacom18, which she was actively promoting on social media. However, just days before its release (October 13), Pannu has distanced herself from all kinds of promotions and even deleted her social media posts about the film. We’ve learnt that the conflict goes beyond lack of promotion at the studio’s end.

“Taapsee didn’t want to be bulldozed by a studio just because they have recovered their investment (by selling digital rights). As a producer, she wanted a say in packaging the film and its releasing,” a source tells us.

Yesterday, the trailer of the film, which stars Ratna Pathak Shah, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Dia Mirza Rekhi and Sanjana Sanghi, dropped with only days to go for its release, leaving only a tiny window to create any sort of buzz or hype. The source adds that Viacom18 also didn’t let Pannu execute her ideas and deals that she got for the film as the producer.

“They kept telling her it’s just a token release and is mainly for people to watch it on OTT, so she should not bother about theatres. For any producer, who got this kind of a cast together in this day and age, not getting support from the studio is the last thing they expected. And it’s so bad for the cast and crew who went on this excruciating journey on road,” says the source.

As for reports that Pannu sold marketing rights to the studio, the source clarifies: “A producer’s job is to make a film in a set budget and deliver it to a studio, and then they market and release the film. No producer can buy or sell marketing rights. Also, Taapsee didn’t make any money in this film, all she wanted was to build a brand of the kind of films she wants to produce, so the least she expected from the studio was to support her promote the film.”

When contacted, Pannu said, “I can’t say anything right now. I’m just waiting for the film and for the audiences to see the labour of our hard work and love. I don’t want it to have a mark of any toxicity.” 

We also reached out to Viacom18 for a comment, but there was no response till the time of going to press.