Payal Rajput accuses Rakshana producer of threatening to ban her from Telugu cinema for not promoting film over ‘unpaid dues’; producers council responds

“Our team attempted to negotiate for digital promotion of Rakshana with Payal, suggesting clearing dues with compensation first. However, they refused to compromise, using my name in a way that tarnishes my image, which is unacceptable.”

“In recent meetings, they used inappropriate language, stating that the distributor asked for Payal to showcase certain assets, and if she didn’t, they wouldn’t accept the film. We are now considering legal action because they are not settling the payments and planning to release the film without my authorisation or consent,” she added.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Payal Rajput ⭐️ ♾ (@rajputpaayal)

An important message to my fans and the film fraternity. #needjustice pic.twitter.com/u96QVbWEdT

— paayal rajput (@starlingpayal) May 19, 2024

Producer & Director Sri Prandeep Thakore gave a complaint on his film “Rakshana” Heroine and Lead artist Ms. Payal Rajput at Telugu Film Producers Council pic.twitter.com/0TlzpYmA3s

— Telugu Film Producers Council (@tfpcin) May 20, 2024

Meanwhile, in a media statement released on Monday, the TFPC noted that the producer of the project had filed a complaint against the actor with the council in March. In the complaint, the film’s director-producer Prandeep Thakore alleged that Payal was not allotting him dates to promote the film, which was a violation of the agreement between the two parties. “Thakore mentioned that he planned to release his movie Rakshana on 19.4.24 and requested Payal to give dates for promotions of the film, but she refused to do so saying that the film is four years old and advised to release it in OTT,” the statement mentioned further.

The statement also claimed that the producer was willing to pay the Rs 6 lakh due, provided she participated in the promotions, but she failed to do so. Asserting that Thakore contacted the actor’s manager on Saturday morning to “resolve the issue amicably,” TFPC noted that his efforts were, however, unsuccessful.

The council also condemned Payal’s claim that there were attempts to ban her from the industry, noting that the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) and TFPC “put in all efforts to convince the artiste through her manager for over one and a half months to honour the agreement; but, in vain.”