The ongoing conflict between Pooja Entertainment and director Ali Abbas Zafar is escalating as they clash over unpaid financial obligations for the eagerly awaited Eid 2024 film Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (BMCM). Zafar and several members of the crew have reported Pooja Entertainment to FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees) citing non-payment issues while producers Vashu and Jackky Bhagnani have filed a police complaint alleging that Zafar misappropriated funds.

In a recent turn of events, several staff members from BMCM have stepped forward to express their views, with some supporting Zafar. Khalid, one of the actors in the movie, was quick to disclose that a number of crew members were paid by Zafar, who recently obtained a grant from Abu Dhabi.

Renowned action director Parvez Shaikh who has worked on hits such as War and Tiger 3 also expressed his backing for Zafar. He took to media to describe the allegations against Zafar as unfounded and commended his professionalism. Parvez shared, “I have worked with Ali Abbas Zafar since 2014 and have never had issues with payments. After the subsidy from Abu Dhabi for BMCM was released, Zafar and Himanshu Mehra cleared all my dues, including payments for the stuntmen.” Parvez however stated that pricey gear from the shoot remains with Pooja Films at a studio in Luton UK and there is no information on when it will be sent back.

Steven Bernard, a film editor known for his work on hits like Chennai Express and Singham Returns, came forward to back Zafar. He shared his experience of dealing with delays in payments during his time editing BMCM for Pooja Films saying, “After working day and night on a project for a year, payments were irregular and often delayed for over five months.” Bernard commended Zafar for making sure his outstanding payments were taken care of once the subsidy from Abu Dhabi was received. This support proved to be a crucial comfort for him in the midst of a family crisis.

Alongside Parvez and Bernard, a total of 10 crew members took to platforms to share their appreciation for Zafar and his teams’ efforts in settling payments. This group includes actor Shahab, associate director Saurabh Kumar and costume designer Makvika Bajaj, among others. Additionally, there are indications that the well-known choreographer Bosco Martis and over crew members have received payments from the Abu Dhabi subsidy.

Jackky Bhagnuni has not responded to requests for comment despite several outreach efforts. In the meantime, it is reported that FWICE is keeping an eye on the payments to ensure fair compensation for all crew members and prevent any misuse of funds.

Ashoke Pandit, the President of IFTDA, has confirmed that the federation will be participating in the project, “We are overseeing the payments to vendors and technicians to prevent misuse of subsidy funds. Pooja Entertainment is liable to pay dues, including for Ganapath and Mission Raniganj. We have been following up for months with Pooja Entertainment, and they have yet to release payments.”

Pandit went on to say that Zafar and his team are working out agreements using Abu Dhabi subsidy funds to make sure that all crew members receive compensation. This suggests an effort to settle the issue by the end of next week. More than 150 vendors, technicians and crew members are set to be paid with the support of FWICE and IFTDA. The situation remains ongoing with both sides pursuing legal and official actions to address the growing financial conflict.