Producer Vashu Bhagnani held a virtual press conference from Dubai with selected members of the media on May 22 and shed light on his ongoing legal dispute with Ramesh Taurani of Tips over the film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. The Varun Dhawan-starrer is directed by David Dhawan.
Vashu Bhagnani said, “The makers had asked me, ‘Do you have the rights to both the songs?’. I replied, ‘Yes. It’s our movie after all’. They requested me, ‘Don’t sell the rights outside. Give the rights to us only’ for Biwi No 1 part 2. 3 months later, both of them launched (Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai) using my IP. As a result, my desire to make Biwi No 1 is no longer valid. My IP value is Rs. 10 crores or with Rs. 50 crores, but now it's zero because without ‘Chunari Chunari’, I can’t make the film. They signed my director. Aur woh director ne ethically meri picture ko khatam kar diya.”
He said, “The judge has categorically said, ‘Share the script and the film. If you have used Vashu Bhagnani’s songs, please remove it’. They should remove the songs and release the film. Mujhe kisi ka nuksaan nahin karna hai. We haven’t made an appeal in court to stop their film’s release. I told them ‘Share the script. In case you haven’t made a film similar to Biwi No 1, you’re most welcome to release the film’. We are not here to do any extortion with anybody. Just don’t use my songs and my script. Hamari ladayi sirf ethics ki hai. In case they haven’t used any material from my film, I’ll apologize and back off.”
He also said, “Any producer raises money from banks or outside or any other source. He then signs the actor, director, and writer and until the end, the poor guy keeps paying everyone. And in case he is unable to pay a few of them, then those vendors go to the media and complain, ‘Vashu Bhagnani chor hai. Mere paise nahin diye’. On the other hand, the director and the music rights use our IP. So, there’s no ethics left. Producer jaayega kahan? Uska FD bhi gayab aur interest bhi. It's suicidal. I would salute Javed Akhtar with both my hands as he fought and won the rights for musicians and lyricists.”
He also narrated an incident from 2018, “I got a call from Tauranis asking me how much money I want for visual rights. I said, ‘Mujhe ek rupya nahin chahiye. I want the rights as it’ll help me sustain. Ek producer ka kitchen chalna chahiye. We only earn through royalty. There’s no other way’. The producer earns through IP. I made some 50 films and possess their IPs so that zindagi bhar chalein mera ghar, mere bete ka ghar aur uske bete ka ghar chalein. This is our asset. Music companies gave us Rs. 25-50 lakhs in those days for the rights and now earn the same amount every month. It’s their asset. I don’t want a share from the audio rights. But I want money from the visual rights.”
He continued, “Tips is earnings crores through songs. Today, their worth is of Rs. 10,000 crores though they have done nothing in last 5 years. They have not even bought the rights of 10 films in last 5 years. It’s all because of royalty. I am not saying you give it all to the makers. But whatever your heart says – 10% or 20% – should be given. It’ll give relief to the producers.”
Vashu remarked, “You have a tongue that you used to talk and you have a heart. If you snatch away both, the person will be dead. By taking away two songs, my IP of Biwi No 1 is dead. Now, no one can make that film without these songs.”
He also said, “Varun Dhawan is like my son. He’s a good friend of my son, Jackky. They are like brothers. Those two can settle this case in 15 minutes without me or David ji even needing to be in the room.”
More Pages: Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai Box Office Collection
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