Hyderabad: Actor Rakul Preet Singh sidestepped a question regarding the ongoing allegations of non-payment of dues involving her father-in-law, veteran producer Vashu Bhagnani. The actor, who was on the green carpet of the IIFA Awards 2024 on Saturday, was asked about the claims, to which Singh briefly responded with a "Sorry" before walking away.
Bhagnani, who has repeatedly denied these allegations, is facing scrutiny from the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). According to FWICE president BN Tiwari, the producer allegedly owes more than Rs 65 lakh to crew members who worked on three of his recent films - Mission Raniganj, Ganapath, and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.
The controversy deepened recently when reports surfaced that Bade Miyan Chote Miyan director Ali Abbas Zafar had filed a case against Bhagnani over unpaid dues amounting to Rs 7 crore. In response, Bhagnani and his son, actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani, reportedly filed a police complaint against Zafar, accusing him of "siphoning off subsidy funds" granted by Abu Dhabi authorities for the film. Crew members who worked on the project have since taken to social media to defend Zafar, adding to the ongoing dispute.