Vikram Bhatt and Wife Granted Temporary Bail in Rs 30 Crore Fraud Case
Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife, Shwetambari, were granted temporary bail on February 13, 2025, in a significant fraud case involving Rs 30 crore. This development comes amidst growing allegations of non-payment of dues related to the 2023 horror film, '1920: Horrors of the Heart'.
Crew Members Step Forward with Unpaid Fee Claims
The case gained momentum after casting director Parag Chadha publicly called out Bhatt for alleged non-payment. Now, additional crew members are coming forward with their own claims of unpaid wages, adding to the mounting legal and financial scrutiny.
One such individual is makeup artist Sneha Sharma, who has revealed that she was not paid Rs 20 lakh as agreed for her work on the film. In an interview with Mid-Day, Sharma stated, "Rs 20 lakh was the amount agreed upon as my fee. Not a single penny was paid, neither to my assistants nor to me."
Detailed Account of Non-Payment and Financial Hardship
Sharma, who was responsible for the makeup of lead actress Avika Gor, provided a detailed account of the financial struggles faced by the crew. She explained that despite initial payments, the situation deteriorated during the second schedule of filming.
"We kept following with the accountants, executive producers, Vikram Bhatt’s team, but none of them would give an answer," Sharma recounted. "My hairstylist was on the verge of getting kicked out of her house. They paid us initially, but during the second schedule, we were told there were no funds. Yet, they went on to shoot another film!"
According to Sharma, her per-day fee was set at Rs 18,000, but she received only half of the total amount by the time filming concluded. She also attempted to contact Krishna Bhatt, Vikram Bhatt's daughter and the director of the film, but was dismissed with the response that she was not part of the accounts team.
Refusal to Work Without Payment and Subsequent Replacement
Sharma further disclosed that the production team approached her again for additional filming days. However, she refused due to the outstanding dues. "If you're not paying, why would I come? So, they hired some other makeup artist for free," she asserted, highlighting the ongoing exploitation within the project.
Background on '1920: Horrors of the Heart'
'1920: Horrors of the Heart' is a horror film directed by Krishna Bhatt and starring Avika Gor, Danish Pandor, and Rahul in lead roles. The movie was released in June 2023 and has since become embroiled in controversy over financial mismanagement and alleged fraud.
The temporary bail granted to Vikram Bhatt and Shwetambari marks a pivotal moment in this case, as more victims of non-payment are expected to come forward. The entertainment industry is closely watching these developments, which underscore broader issues of financial accountability and worker rights in film production.
