Bombay High Court Seeks Response From Haddi Producers In Suit Filed By Nawazuddin Siddiqui Over Alleged Dues, No Immediate Stay On Film's Release

The Bombay High Court today directed co-producer Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) to file a reply affidavit in Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s specific performance suit seeking payment of over Rs. 5 Crores additional fees as lead actor in film Haddi.

Justice SM Modak refused Siddiqui’s prayer for ad interim relief seeking directions to ZEEL to deposit the amount with the court and posted the matter for further consideration after four weeks.

“I do not find any extreme urgency to pass any ad-interim relief. It is proper to give an opportunity to Defendant No.2 (ZEEL) to file affidavit-in-reply”, the court said.

While Siddiqui has also sought interim relief of stay on release of the movie in the suit, his counsel Advocate Sunil Kumar did not press for a stay during the hearing today. At Kumar’s insistence, the court recorded that if in future there is any court order directing ZEEL to pay/deposit the amount, ZEEL will have to obey such order.

Siddiqui has claimed that in March 2022 he signed an artist’s agreement with producer Anandita Studios Pvt Ltd for the film for a fixed fee of Rs. 5 Crores, with additional fees if principal photography of the film exceeded 30 days with a grace period of 5 days.

Siddiqui has claimed that he blocked 32 additional days for the shoot as per the instructions and requirements of the producers, and the total number of blocked days is 67 for the shoot. Thus, Siddiqui is seeking additional Rs. 5 Crores 7 Lakhs for the 32 days.

Anandita Studios via a co-production agreement has given all rights on the film to ZEEL.

Advocate Sunil Kumar said that he served the plaint to Anandita Studios at the office but it was closed. However, they have filed an affidavit in the case, he said. He alleged that the directors of Anandita Studios are absconding and the MIDC police officers are looking for them in an FIR filed by Vivek Oberoi regarding non-payment of dues to him. “There is an FIR filed by Vivek Oberoi against Defendant no. 1 (Anandita Studios), to him also they are not paying money”, he said.

Advocate Hiren Kamod for ZEEL contended that Siddiqui did not work for any additional days, hence, there is no additional fees due to him. He further said that Siddiqui is merely owed Rs. 50 lakhs balance from the original Rs. 5 Crores fixed fee. He submitted that in a meeting it has been decided that Rs. 25 lakhs will be paid once ZEEL receives invoice from Siddiqui and rest Rs. 25 lakhs will be paid on the release of the film.

Earlier the court refused relief to actor-producer Vivek Oberoi seeking to stall the release of the film. Haddi is set to release tomorrow on OTT app Zee5.

Case Title – Nawazuddin Siddiqui v. Anandita Studios Pvt Ltd and Anr.

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