Kangana Ranaut Starrer Manikarnika Yet To Clear Dues Of Junior Artists & Vendors? Producer Speaks Up
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) claimed that the makers of Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi are yet to clear dues of approximately Rs 1.5 crore to workers and junior artists.
A
day
after
the
Federation
of
Western
India
Cine
Employees
(FWICE)
claimed
that
the
makers
of
Manikarnika:
The
Queen
of
Jhansi
are
yet
to
clear
dues
of
approximately
Rs
1.5
crore
of
workers
and
junior
artists,
producer
Kamal
Jain
on
Friday
refuted
the
allegations.
The
producer
said
that
all
the
legitimate
and
due
payments
have
been
made,
except
for
one
vendor,
who
is
arm-twisting
them.
According
to
FWICE,
the
makers
of
the
Kangana
Ranaut-starrer
film,
have
been
shooting
some
portions
of
the
movie
at
Filmcity
in
suburban
Mumbai.
The
shoot
was
halted
on
Wednesday
afternoon
mid-way
because
of
non-payment
of
dues
to
workers,
technicians
and
junior
artists.
The
Producer
Of
Manikarnika,
Kamal
Jain
Has
Not
Paid
Staff
Since
3
Months!
"It
has
been
three
months
but
they
have
not
cleared
dues
of
daily
wage
workers,
which
is
about
Rs
40
lakh.
About
Rs
90
lakh
is
to
be
paid
to
light
vendor
and
Rs
25
lakh
to
junior
artists.
The
producer
(Kamal
Jain)
had
promised
to
make
the
payment
by
October
but
he
has
not
fulfilled
his
commitment," Ashok
Dubey,
General
Secretary
of
Federation
of
Western
India
Cine
Employees
(FWICE)
had
told
PTI
on
Thursday.
All
Legitimate
Payments
Were
Cleared,
Says
Manikarnika
Producer
Kamal
Nath
Jain,
on
his
part,
said,
they
have
filed
a
complaint
with
the
Film
&
TV
Producers
Guild
of
India
against
Film
and
Allied
Union
over
one
disputed
vendor.
According
to
Jain,
the
shoot
got
over
on
October
13,
and
"all
legitimate
and
due
payments
were
made."
A
Vendor
Is
Illegitimately
Using
Union
Authority
For
Money,
Says
The
Producer
"One
disputed
vendor,
who
has
already
been
paid
70
percent
of
his
dues,
is
illegitimately
now
using
the
union
authority
to
arm
twist
us
and
disrupted
our
film
shoot,
which
is
completely
illegal,
untenable
under
the
law
and
clearly
is
harassment
to
us
and
our
team.
This
is
one
vendor
whose
payment
is
under
dispute
and
is
being
tackled
professionally
and
in
a
businesslike
manner,"
Jain
said
in
a
statement.
We
Respect
Everyone's
Hard
Work
Put
In
Making
Manikarnika!
Jain
said,
the
matter
is
being
handled
by
the
Producers' Guild
and
they
will
abide
by
their
process.
He
added,
"As
a
production
house
we
are
absolutely
clear
on
not
holding
back
any
ones
payment
which
is
legitimate
and
due,
as
we
immensely
respect
everyone's
hard
work
that
has
gone
into
this
film.
We
are
thankful
to
each
vendor/individual
who
has
helped
us
on
making
this
film."
Kulmeet
Makkar,
Chief
Executive
Officer
Producers
Guild
of
India,
said,
they
are
looking
into
the
matter
and
will
take
the
necessary
action,
"We
have
been
formally
informed
by
our
member
Kairos
Kontent
that
film
and
allied
union
and
a
specific
vendor
have
been
misusing
their
authority
to
stop
film
shooting.
This
is
indeed
unfortunate
and
extremely
unhealthy
trade
practice."
He
further
commented,
"This
is
a
commercial
matter
between
producer
and
a
vendor
hence
should
be
amicably
resolved.
We
will
be
looking
into
the
complaint
made
by
our
member
to
take
the
next
course
of
action," Makkar
said.
Reacting
to
Jain's
statement,
Dubey,told
PTI,
"The
film
takes
a
long
time
to
get
made.
The
makers
have
made
some
payment
but
there
are
dues
that
are
pending
to
workers,
junior
artists."
The
film
is
due
to
be
released
on
January
25
next
year.