War Erupts Between Randeep Hooda, Makers Of Savarkar Film

MUMBAI, (IANS) – A legal war surrounding the intellectual property rights (IPRs) of the upcoming film ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’ has flared up between the actor-director-producer Randeep Hooda and the co-producers Sandeep Singh and Anand Pandit.

Randeep’s lawyers have sent a legal notice to Sandeep Singh and Anand Pandit stating that Randeep was “approached” to play the lead role in the film when the film’s script wasn’t even in place and Mahesh Manjrekar was said to be directing the film.

Randeep’s legal team has claimed that the actor’s dates of engagement with the project and he was assured that the shoot would start in June 2022 with the filming getting completed in August 2022. Keeping this in mind, Randeep underwent a rigorous physical transformation involving substantial weight loss in a short span.

After not getting a script in place, Randeep got on board another writer but was informed by the producers of Mahesh Manjrekar’s unavailability because he had by then taken charge of another project. That’s when Randeep took over the reins as director — after refusing to work as co-director with Sandeep Singh.

Randeep was soon informed about the film getting shelved by the producers as they did not have sufficient funds to make it. That’s when Randeep stepped in as a producer through Randeep Hooda Films LLP but meanwhile Sandeep “unlawfully” registered the script under his name, Randeep’s legal team alleged. The script was already registered with the Screen Writers’ Association, Mumbai, much before Sandeep Singh did so.

That’s the bone of contention over the rights of the film with Randeep stating that he is the sole owner of the film and that he wasn’t paid any amount for his role by Sandeep Singh and Anand Pandit after the initial signing amount.

Sandeep Singh and Anand Pandit lawyers have contended that they are the exclusive joint producers and owners of the entire Intellectual Property Rights and exploitation rights of the film ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’.