The behind-the-scenes drama of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan seems to be more explosive than the action on screen. Producers Vashu Bhagnani and Jackky Bhagnani of Pooja Entertainment have filed a serious complaint against the film's director, Ali Abbas Zafar, accusing him of siphoning off subsidy funds provided by Abu Dhabi authorities during the film's production. The movie, which starred Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff and hit theaters on April 11, didn’t just falter at the box office—now, it’s entangled in a major financial controversy.
On September 2, 2024, the Bhagnanis lodged the complaint at Bandra Police Station, accusing Zafar, along with Himanshu Mehra, Ekesh Ranadive, and others, of serious offenses like fraud, cheating, misappropriation of funds, criminal conspiracy, and even money laundering. The accusation? The filmmakers claim that Zafar and his associates inflated budgets, took kickbacks, fabricated invoices, and funneled funds through a shell company in Abu Dhabi. They further accuse Zafar of mishandling contracts, demanding unapproved payments, and failing to provide transparent financial records, all of which led to significant financial losses for the production house.
A post shared by Jackky V Bhagnani (@jackkybhagnani) Adding fuel to the fire, Zafar had earlier accused the Bhagnanis of not paying him ₹7.30 crores, which he claimed was his fee for directing the film. It appears both sides are leveling hefty financial claims against each other, leading to what could become a drawn-out legal battle.
This isn’t the first time Bade Miyan Chote Miyan has found itself in hot water. In June, several crew members spoke out against Pooja Entertainment, accusing the production house of not clearing their payments on time. One crew member, Ruchita Kamble, even took to Instagram to warn others against working with them.
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) president, BN Tiwari, also accused Vashu Bhagnani of owing over ₹65 lakh to crew members who worked on three of his films: Mission Raniganj, Ganapath, and, of course, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. A post shared by Ali Abbas Zafar (@aliabbaszafar) To make matters worse, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan was a disaster at the box office, grossing only ₹59.17 crores against a reported budget of ₹350 crore.
Despite a star-studded cast that included Prithviraj Sukumaran, Alaya F, and Manushi Chhillar, the film bombed, receiving poor reviews from critics and audiences alike. As the legal battle unfolds, it looks like the behind-the-scenes drama could eclipse the lackluster performance of the film itself. For now, both sides are standing firm in their allegations, but the full extent of what went wrong on the sets of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan remains to be seen.
.
