Aashiesh Sharma is yet to get 50 lakhs from the producer of Prithvi Vallabh, cast of Chandrasekhar also allege non payment

Of late, reports of makers of TV serials not clearing dues of the cast has come up. It has been a problem for years, but after teh pandemic, it has come to prominence. Many TV celebs have claimed to not have been paid despite doing the work and being a part of shows for months. In fact, Zaan Khan had brought this to the limelight and asked TV bodies to intervene against such malpractices. Now, TV actor Aashiesh Sharma opened up about not being paid. In fact, he claimed that the makers of Prithvi Vallabh owe him 50 lakhs INR!

Talking to BT, Aashiesh said, “For two years, Anirudh Pathak (producer, Prithvi Vallabh) kept making false promises that he would pay me. He gave it to me in writing and mails were exchanged on this. However, eventually, he simply denied owing me any money, which came as a shock. I tried to follow up and reason with him, but he stopped taking my calls and replying to my text messages. After all attempts failed, I filed a complaint against him at the Oshiwara Police Station for cheating and fraud in February this year. He hasn’t paid many cast and crew members of his other shows as well. I was surprised to learn that there are multiple complaints against him for non-payment and cheques bouncing. In fact, he had issued a cheque issued to me, but later requested me not to deposit it. He claims to have borne huge losses. How is that possible when you haven’t paid anybody?”

Anirudh Pathak refuted the claims and said, “I don’t owe a single penny to Aashiesh. He has been fully paid. What he is asking for now is over and above the fee agreed upon, which is uncalled for. Prithvi Vallabh was originally planned for 80 episodes, but wrapped up in 45 episodes and I had to bear huge losses. How can he ask for something that I don’t owe him?”

However, other celebs also cried foul. Starts from the TV show Chandrashekhar, which was also produced by Anirudh claimed that he owes them money. Zubair Rahmani, whose son Ayaan Zubair Rahmani played the young Chandrashekhar on the show, said, “The producer had issued two cheques, but around `3 lakh is still pending to be cleared. We made several attempts to reach him, but to no avail. I have shared the invoices with the advocate representing CINTAA.”

Sneha Wagh, who had played Chandrashekhar Azad’s mother in Chandrashekhar, said, “I commenced the shoot for the show in January 2018 and worked for three-and-a-half months and the makers cleared only 50 per cent of my dues. It’s been three years now.” Anirudh refuted these claims too.