In an exclusive interview with ETimes, actor Vijay Raaz opened up about the ongoing controversy surrounding his departure from the film ‘ Son of Sardar 2 .’ The seasoned actor believes that the film's producers are attempting to tarnish his reputation after he refused to return the advance payment he received for the project. Vijay Raaz revealed that he was asked to leave the film on August 4th, but the issue has only escalated recently.
He explained, "It’s because I refused to return the advance paid to me by them, and now they are trying to intimidate me. I told Kumar Mangat that we would discuss the issue once they were back from the shoot. I also told him, ‘You have wasted my time, insulted me, and damaged my reputation in the industry.
’" The actor further stated, “They have removed me from the film, and the rule is that if the artist is removed, they are not obligated to return the money. If I had walked out of the film on my own, I would have returned the advance.” Vijay Raaz also questioned the timing of the producers' actions, suggesting it was a deliberate attempt to undermine him.
"Kumar Mangat called me on Thursday, and after I refused to return the money, they went on a rampage to intimidate me, playing with my life. What have I done—hurt their ego? But that doesn't give them the right to play with someone's life," he said. Detailing the events that led to his exit, Vijay Raaz shared what happened when he arrived in the UK for the shoot.
"I landed on August 3 and checked into my very congested room and I just told the executive producer of the film Ashish to see if I could get a bigger space as I do yoga every morning and it would be nice if I could get it. Ashish said it would be done and asked me to come to the set. You see, I am an artist and need mental peace and therefore made that request.
" He continued, "As the producer, it's your responsibility to take care of me and my staff while I'm on set." The actor then recounted the events at the shoot location, he stated, "I went to the location and proceeded to my van, there was still time for my shot. Ashish came to my van even Ravi Kishan, who was also there came to my van.
They were followed by Kumar Mangat, who too came and met me. And 20 minutes later, he returns and tells me, ‘Aapki badi dikkat hai aap chale jaaiye.’ I said I will leave but he started telling me even your spot boy’s fee is more than Ajay Devgn ’s boy.
I asked him why he was asking me about it now when it was pre-decided before I joined the film and landed in the UK. And the shoot was not in India but in London, one would not discuss fees after landing on set. I had only raised the room issue and Ashish was standing right there when Kumar Mangat was speaking to me about my boy’s fees.
And he didn’t stop there, he started talking about the rent of the room and I told him, it was bound to be but why should I know about it; did I ask you that we should shoot in the UK?" Vijay also addressed claims that he ignored Ajay Devgn on set, which had been reported in the media. "We did not make any eye contact. I was on location with Ravi Kishan and cameraman Aseem Bajaj along with the director of the film, and we were chatting, Ajay Devgn was about 25 metres away also speaking to someone, and later returned on the set.
I did not go on the set as my shoot was to happen at some other location, and next, I saw Kumar Mangat calling me and asking me to leave the set" Feeling humiliated and insulted, Vijay Raaz concluded by questioning the producers' motives, "I have achieved this stature through hard work and have built a respectable body of work. They should not play with someone’s life like this. What have I done?" Murder in Mahim: Ashutosh Rana gets candid on working with Vijay Raaz; reacts to Preity Zinta's 'Sangarsh sequel' statement.
