Zayed Khan’s wedding was counted among the big-ticket dos of this season. What with a star-studded sangeet and reception, crores were spent on food and décor. Designer labels were flaunted on every occasion.
However, we heard that the Khans reportedly took a loan (around Rs 3 crore) from a multinational bank to finance the extravagant affair. Zayed Khan’s secretary Ram Tiwari has denied this. “Why should he take a loan? I’ve collected crores from Zayed’s producers. Why would we need to take money from a bank?” he fumes.
Zayed may land roles but one must also consider that his films have not exactly clicked. Given that, the question of him taking a loan does not sound illogical at all.
One also wonders what is happening at Sanjay Khan’s production house, Numero Uno International. The company that produced hit serials like The Sword Of Tipu Sultan and The Great Maratha is reportedly not doing well now. When HT tried to contact him, the response was: “Mr Khan is out of town.”
Numero Uno was going great guns till Doordarshan changed the rules of the game in 2001. Content companies were sold airtime slots on minimum guaranteed returns, but the formula was recast and most soap and entertainment programme producers pulled out of TV content production. In the case of Numero Uno, it is believed the company shut down and allegedly asked all senior executives to put in their papers after the crisis.
{{/usCountry}}Numero Uno was going great guns till Doordarshan changed the rules of the game in 2001. Content companies were sold airtime slots on minimum guaranteed returns, but the formula was recast and most soap and entertainment programme producers pulled out of TV content production. In the case of Numero Uno, it is believed the company shut down and allegedly asked all senior executives to put in their papers after the crisis.
{{/usCountry}}Prasar Bharti served notices to 19 production houses for recovery of dues totalling to Rs 97 crore. Numero Uno was allegedly served a notice for Rs 16.11 crore. Things reportedly got worse in 2003 when UTI served Numero Uno a notice for losses incurred in a private placement deal.
Sanjay Khan tried to scotch the issue by offering to buy back his shares, but the matter went into a legal spin as the price Khan offered was lower than the purchase price for the shares.
“Right now, Numero Uno isn’t doing anything but we’re planning something soon,” say company sources vaguely.
The company also owes Mandira Bedi nearly Rs 3 lakh for her role as Draupadi in the Sanjay Khan-produced Jai Mahabh-arat.
The case is still on. Corroborating this, Dharmesh Tiwari, general secretary, Cine and TV Artistes Association, says: “Numero Uno has still not paid Mandira Bedi, and the Federation has issued a non-cooperation notice against the company” It’s just one of the many cases against the company.