Manchu Manoj and the Junior Artistes association in Vishakhapatnam have gotten into an ugly spat. According to reports, the producer of his latest film, Achchi Babu had recruited junior artistes for 15 days for the film’s shoot in Vishakhapatnam. He had also promised to pay them Rs. 1 lakh for each day. The producer released Rs. 5 lakhs kept Rs. 10 lakhs on hold. When asked about this, the makers along with Manchu Manoj behaved harshly and fought with the junior artists, it is alleged.
Following this, a group of agents, who claimed to represent the association, barged into Achchi Babu’s guest house on 26 July. Babu was allegedly threatened by the gang, and forced to ‘sign promissory notes and blank cheques to the tune of Rs. 15.5 lakh rupees’.
Following this, Manchu Manoj held a press conference to discuss the matter. He said, “The junior artistes’ associations of Vizag have no affiliation to the Film Federation of Hyderabad. These associations are mostly hiring non-card holders as junior artistes for peanuts. They have formed into a syndicate and turn into dictators for producers and artists.”
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Producer Achchi Babu alleged that the association had brought in people with little acting experience. “By bringing non-card holders who have no experience with shooting, at least two hours of our time is wasted each day to train them. I had already paid `10 lakh and we were in talks with them over their pay, but they made threatening calls and attacked me. After making us pay Rs. 850 each artist per a day, they pay them just Rs. 250 to Rs. 350.”
Both sides have lodged complaints against each other in the local police station. The local authorities have reached out to both the sides and are in the process of settling the dispute.
Image Courtesy: Telugu One