Conflict Explodes: Ashwin Varde Says Paresh Rawal Tried To Sideline Akshay Kumar
MUMBAI- Producer Ashwin Varde has strongly refuted actor Paresh Rawal’s recent claims about the making of ‘OMG-2’, describing them as “shocking, untrue and unsubstantiated” and alleging that Rawal wanted to keep actor Akshay Kumar out of the project despite the franchise belonging to the superstar. “These allegations leave me with no option but to publicly set the record straight,” Varde said in a detailed statement.
Varde said senior actor Pavan Malhotra introduced him to writer-director Amit Rai, who later narrated a story that eventually became ‘OMG-2’. He said the subject closely resembled ‘OMG’ and raised concerns because the franchise’s intellectual property rights belonged to Akshay Kumar.
According to Varde, Rai told him Rawal had asked him to write the script in the format of ‘OMG’. Varde further alleged that when Rai questioned ownership of the project, Rawal claimed the IP belonged to him, leading Rai to complete the script.
Varde went as far as to describe Rawal’s actions as “unethical and unprofessional.”
“That’s when it became clear to me what Paresh was trying to do. He was trying to make a version of OMG under a different name, which is unethical and unprofessional. It was trying to steal someone else’s creation and property, and use it under a guise. For me, that is nothing short of a theft.”
Responding to Rawal’s claim that several actors rejected the script, Varde said they believed it was too similar to ‘OMG’ and required Akshay Kumar’s approval. He added that Wakaoo Films later acquired the script.
Varde also maintained that Amit Rai is the sole writer of the film.
“The script was and is still registered under the name of Amit Rai who is the SOLE writer of the film. It is completely unfair and unwarranted on Paresh’s part to have expected any kind of credit for the film’s script… Perhaps because it is simply not true.”
Varde said he later met Rawal only to discuss casting him in the film. However, when he informed him that the script would first be taken to Akshay Kumar because of its similarity to ‘OMG’, Rawal objected.
“I met Paresh for the third time at the Soho House in Juhu where I told him that I would have to take this script first to Akshay Kumar since this is too much like OMG and it would be unethical on my part not to do so. I was shocked to see his reaction. He was emphatic that this film cannot be OMG… It became obvious after a point that he wanted to keep Akshay Kumar out from the project for reasons best known to him.”
Varde said he explained the ethical and legal implications, but Rawal remained opposed, following which the producers decided to move ahead with Akshay Kumar.
He said Rawal remained the first choice for the role and that Akshay Kumar personally tried to convince him to join the film, but “he refused to budge from his stance. We waited for almost two months, after which we moved on.”
Varde reiterated that Rawal’s involvement was limited to acting and claimed there was an actor agreement between them. He also alleged Rawal received producer credit on ‘OMG-2’ and the agreed remuneration despite making no contribution to the project.
“I would like to state again that nobody tried to cheat Paresh Rawal of anything. The only thing we are guilty of is stopping him from doing the same.”
Varde’s statement came after Rawal claimed the original idea for a film on sex education and parent-child relationships was his and that he was denied story and concept credit for ‘OMG-2’. Rawal also said creative differences over the inclusion of the character of God led him to leave the project, after which actor Pankaj Tripathi was cast. (IANS)
