Producer Alleges He Paid Amitabh Bachchan Rs 4 Crore for Film That Never Released
In a startling revelation that has sent shockwaves through Bollywood, producer Shailendra Singh has claimed he paid legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan a substantial advance of Rs 4 crore for a film project that ultimately never saw the light of day. The producer, known for backing critically acclaimed films like Page 3 and Traffic Signal, detailed his involvement in a protracted dispute over the rights to the film Shoebite, which remains unreleased to this day.
The Genesis of the Dispute: From Johnny Walker to Shoebite
Shailendra Singh recounted that he originally developed the story for a film titled Johnny Walker, which he pitched directly to Amitabh Bachchan. According to his account, he facilitated a meeting between Bachchan and director Shoojit Sircar at Bachchan's residence, Jalsa, where a deal was reportedly finalized. "I paid Amitabh Bachchan Rs 4 crore for acting," Singh stated emphatically in an interview, underscoring his financial commitment to the project.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Singh claims he was informed that Bachchan's production house, AB Corp, intended to produce the film instead. "I had already appointed Mr. Bachchan as the actor and paid him the advance. I did not want AB Corp to produce my film," Singh explained, highlighting his desire to retain creative control. His refusal to relinquish the rights allegedly led to a fallout, resulting in him losing both the director and the project entirely.
Allegations of Idea Theft and Legal Battles
Singh further accused Shoojit Sircar of reselling the film concept to UTV's Ronnie Screwvala, leading to the project being rebranded as Johnny Mastana and later Shoebite. Despite featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Dia Mirza, the film has never been released, a fact Singh attributes to multiple legal cases filed against it, including one by his own production company. "Our case is still ongoing," he revealed, adding that a chance encounter with Bachchan on a flight yielded no clarification, with the actor merely smiling in response.
Interestingly, Shoojit Sircar and Amitabh Bachchan went on to collaborate successfully on other films like Piku and Gulabo Sitabo, while Shoebite remains in limbo despite a court ruling in UTV's favor back in 2012.
A Parallel Tale: The Devdas Episode
In a related anecdote, Shailendra Singh also shared details about another high-profile project he nearly produced: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's iconic film Devdas. He disclosed that he had paid an advance of Rs 11 lakh and was deeply involved in pre-production, even hosting a party with Aishwarya Rai in attendance. However, he abruptly withdrew from the project on the advice of filmmaker David Dhawan, who warned him against producing such a large-scale film.
"David Dhawan told me it was a bad idea, and I left overnight," Singh admitted, expressing regret over the decision. He praised Dhawan's industry insight but acknowledged that walking away from Devdas remains one of his biggest professional regrets.
These revelations shed light on the often tumultuous and complex negotiations behind the scenes in Bollywood, where financial investments and creative visions can sometimes lead to unresolved conflicts and unfinished projects.
