Raaj Shaandilyaa, the director originally slated to lead Bhagam Bhag 2 starring Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal, has recently come forward with concerns following a legal dispute with production house Balaji Telefilms. While preparations for the film seemed to be on track, Shaandilyaa announced his termination of contract, leading to tensions between him and the producers.
In his statement to Variety India, Shaandilyaa addressed the fallout from his contractual decision. He indicated that it had been over two weeks since he officially ended his arrangement with Balaji Telefilms. According to him, while the production company could have disputed the termination in court, no legal proceedings have been initiated against him. Instead, he claims that exaggerated and baseless criminal allegations have surfaced, which he regards as attempts to intimidate him.
The director expressed his confidence in his legal rights, asserting he would counter any allegations through the proper processes. He affirmed that the production of Bhagam Bhag 2 remains on track and is proceeding as planned, urging industry peers to note the tactics employed in this dispute.
Shaandilyaa also revealed his discomfort regarding the recent communications with Balaji Telefilms. Despite completing the script for his upcoming project Sonam Bewafa Hai, he felt that the inquiries from the production house had crossed a line into mistrust, which contributed to his unease.
Adding to the film’s developments, Paresh Rawal recently confirmed that Govinda has exited the project, with Manoj Bajpayee now onboard as one of the leading roles. The original Bhagam Bhag, released in 2006, is a well-known Bollywood comedy directed by Priyadarshan, featuring a blend of humor and chaos as it follows a theatre troupe entangled in unexpected crimes while abroad.
As tensions continue to unfold in the lead-up to Bhagam Bhag 2, the future of the film and Shaandilyaa’s role in it remain pivotal issues to monitor.