Neerja Bhanot’s family members have filed a petition in Chandigarh High Court against the makers of film ‘Neerja’. They have accused Atul Kasbekar’s Bling Unplugged and Fox Star Studios of criminal conspiracy.
Bhanots’ legal counsel, Hemant Saini said, “The parties entered into an agreement which promised the family 10 per cent profits, over and above the initial stipulated amount. Now, the producers are indicating that the contract referred to the percentage made by Bling alone, and not by both the producers. They claim that the amount the family is demanding belongs to Fox, which, they say, is not a party to the agreement. They say most of the profits have gone to the studio and they can only give what they have. However, it was made clear that if the producers assign the rights to anybody else (in this case, to Fox), they too will be bound by this agreement. It’s a clear case of cheating.”
The petition further claims that ‘the producer's have conducted a planned conspiracy and dishonestly induced the family members of late Rama Bhanot (Neerja’s mother) with the intention of wrongful gains to themselves.’
“The movie made over Rs 135 crore, but Kasbekar’s company said the studio would keep 80 percent of the profits. The family was given a small amount (nearly Rs 25 lakh), which they refused to accept. They wanted to use the profits to set up a charitable trust to help women in need,” said Hemant Saini before signing off.
In an earlier statement made by Kasbekar, he had said, “The family’s demands were a retrospective negotiation and not as per what is signed by them years ago.”
Chandigarh Court will hear the matter next Friday.
CREDITS: MID-DAY