At the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) 2024 green carpet, actress Rakul Preet Singh made headlines when she walked away from reporters after being asked about her father-in-law, producer Vashu Bhagnani, who faces multiple allegations of non-payment of dues.

Rakul, dressed in a green bodycon dress, was initially seen discussing her upcoming film De De Pyaar De 2. When a reporter asked her about the ongoing shooting, she smiled and responded, "Very good." However, the atmosphere changed when she was questioned about the allegations against Vashu Bhagnani. As the reporter began, "There are a lot of reports in the media about Vashu sir, and a lot of people have said that...," Rakul immediately stopped smiling, apologized, and walked away without answering.

Vashu Bhagnani, head of Pooja Entertainment, has been under scrutiny for several months due to accusations of unpaid dues to crew members on various films, including Mission Raniganj, Ganapath, and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has alleged that Bhagnani owes over 65 lakh to crew members who worked on these projects.

BN Tiwari, president of FWICE, has previously spoken about these allegations. In a statement, he revealed that director Tinu Desai has a pending payment of 33 lakh for Mission Raniganj, while director Ali Abbas Zafar is reportedly owed 7.5 crores for his work on Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. Tiwari also mentioned that director Vikas Bahl has yet to receive 2.5 crores for Ganapath.

Despite these allegations, Vashu Bhagnani continues to be a prominent figure in Bollywood, known for producing iconic films such as Coolie No 1, Hero No 1, Biwi No 1, Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, and more recently, Sarbjit and Bell Bottom. However, these unresolved financial issues continue to cast a shadow over his production house.

The controversy surrounding Vashu Bhagnani's unpaid dues remains a hot topic, with the FWICE continuing to push for resolution, while Rakul Preet Singh's public silence on the matter has added fuel to the media buzz.