‘We settled for 50 per cent’

RA.One director Anubhav Sinha accused of shortchanging the cast and crew of his TV series, Mr and Mrs Mishra that ended abruptly in December 2009.

Director Anubhav Sinha, who is eagerly looking forward to his superhero film, RA.One certainly hadn’t anticipated a blast from the past, triggered by those who had worked with him on his television show, Mr And Mrs Mishra. The detective series went off the air in December 2009 and the team has now opted to settle for part payment instead of waiting for their full dues.

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An actor from the show grouses that ever since the channel, Sahara pulled the plug on Mr And Mrs Mishra rather abruptly over a year-and-a-half ago, they’ve been chasing the production team for their dues and were always told to come back another day.“We eventually threatened to complain to those Anubhav was working with industry, and finally had to settle for 50 per cent, maximum,” he sighs.

Akshar Kuchroo, who was also part of the cast, got his settlement a couple of days ago. It was just half of what he’d been promised because Anubhav claimed to have run into losses. “We feel shortchanged because we worked 15-16 hours on the show but there was no scope for negotiation,” he rues.

Another actor, who didn’t wish to be named, pointed out that a contract is not drawn up keeping losses in mind. “Mumbai is not a cheap city and we have bills to pay. That’s the reason we settled for whatever we got,” he says.

Anubhav’s reaction was short: “I don’t want to talk about this.” His official spokesperson asserted that he was “not interested in reacting to a drug-induced delirium”. The publicist stated, “He (Akshar Kuchroo) has done such things earlier. After this story comes out, Anubhav is sure to get a call from him begging for forgiveness. He has called and apologised many times.”