Vishnu Induri, one of the producers of 83, the upcoming Hindi sports drama starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, has issued a statement calling the criminal complaint filed against the film’s producers for alleged cheating, criminal conspiracy and breach of contract, ‘false, baseless and motivated’.
Last week, Future Resources FZE, a UAE-based financier company, had moved the Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Mumbai seeking judicial inquiry against the film’s makers, Vibri Media. The complaint also named the producers of the film, including Padukone, Phantom Films, filmmakers Sajid Nadiadwala, Kabir Khan, and others, for allegedly committing offences under Sections 405, 406 (criminal breach of trust), 415, 418, 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
According to the complaint, representatives from FZE had met with the Hyderabad-based Vibri Media looking for big investments. The latter then “fraudulently made bogus, exaggerated claims” and submitted false profit-and-loss reports to get FZE to invest approximately Rs 16 crore with Vibri Media, the complaint stated.
Further, FZE mentioned that it became a shareholder after executing two agreements, the Securities Subscription Agreement (SSA) and the Shareholders Agreement (SHA) with Vibri Media based on its representations and warranties.
The complaint added that the director of Vibri Media, Vishnu Indhuri, was made the producer of the film in his personal capacity despite the company being bound to use FZE’s money for business purposes only and not for the personal use of its directors.
Induri, addressing the legal tussle through his spokesperson, said in a statement, “In the wake of the ongoing reports of a legal case filed against the makers of the upcoming film 83, on behalf of Vibri Media, we would like to deny the claims of the complainant and clarify the makers of 83 are in no way concerned with the case. The complaint of Future Resources FZE against the producers of the film 83 is false, baseless, and motivated. Future Resources FZE is a minority shareholder in Vibri Media, there have been internal disputes between the promoters of Vibri Media Pvt Ltd and the complainant, which are pending in various courts. The complainant Future Resources FZE has been restrained by the Hon’ble Telangana high court from interfering with the movie 83 in any manner.”
“This action of the complainant prior to the release of the film is motivated, a publicity gimmick and constitutes contempt of court for which Vibri Media Pvt Ltd is availing its legal remedies against the Complainant. The film 83 and the producers are in no way concerned with this and they reserve their right to initiate appropriate action against Future Resources FZE,” the statement further read.
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Amidst this, a report in Bollywood Hungama stated that the film will not be able to get an IMAX release as the officials in America have denied the request. “This is because ’83 releases on December 24, 2021, a week after the release of the highly awaited superhero flick, Spider-Man: No Way Home, which hits theatres worldwide on December 16/17. And that’s not all. The Matrix Resurrections, the fourth part in the acclaimed The Matrix series, will be released across the world on December 22. Both these films would be released in the IMAX versions. IMAX management does not encourage the release of too many IMAX films in the same period. As a result, they had to refuse approval to the makers of 83.” a source told the publication.
Directed by Kabir Khan, 83 will showcase India’s first cricket World Cup victory. It also stars Jiiva, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Saqib Saleem, Harrdy Sandhu, Ammy Virk, Pankaj Tripathi, Boman Irani, Nishant Dahiya, Sahil Khattar, among others. It is set to release on December 24.