'Son of Sardaar 2': Vijay Raaz claims intimidation by producers
What's the story
Actor Vijay Raaz has opened up about his controversial exit from Son of Sardaar 2.
In an exclusive interview with ETimes, Raaz claimed that he was asked to leave the film after refusing to return the advance payment.
He alleged that the producers are now trying to tarnish his reputation.
The actor also shared details about the events leading up to his departure.
Details
'They're trying to intimidate me,' says Raaz
According to Raaz, he was asked to leave Son of Sardaar 2 on August 4.
He said, "It's because I refused to return the advance paid to me by them, and now they are trying to intimidate me."
"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."
Information
Raaz questions timing of producers' actions
The Welcome actor also questioned the timing of the producers' actions, suggesting it was a deliberate attempt to undermine him.
"[Producer] 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."
On-set issues
Raaz shares details about his UK arrival for the shoot
Raaz shared details about his arrival in the UK for the shoot.
He said, "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."
"Ashish said it would be done and asked me to come to the set."
On-set confrontation
Raaz recounts events at the shoot location
Raaz then recounted the events at the shoot location.
"I went to the location and proceeded to my van. Ashish came to my van, even Ravi Kishan. They were followed by Kumar Mangat, who too came and met me."
"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."
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'Why discuss fees after landing on set?'
Raaz continued, "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... One would not discuss fees after landing on set."
Set interaction
Raaz addresses claims of ignoring Devgn on set
Raaz also addressed claims that he ignored the lead actor Ajay Devgn on set.
He said, "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 meters away also speaking to someone, and later returned on the set."
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'They should not play with someone's life like this'
Feeling humiliated and insulted, 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?"
Raaz has now been replaced by Sanjay Mishra.
Son of Sardaar 2 also stars Mrunal Thakur and is helmed by Vijay Kumar Arora.