Veteran Bollywood producer Vashu Bhagnani has opened up about a growing rift and ongoing legal battle with filmmaker David Dhawan, his actor son Varun Dhawan, and music label Tips Industries. In a virtual press conference, Bhagnani expressed profound emotional heartbreak and financial frustration, revealing that Varun Dhawan failed to check in on him after their 2020 film Coolie No. 1 suffered a devastating financial loss.
“We made Coolie No. 1 in 2020, suffered a loss of INR 27 crore, [and] he never even burdened to ask how I was doing… I lost a lot of money being with him.” — Vashu Bhagnani
The Core of the Legal Dispute
The legal friction centers around an upcoming Bollywood film starring Varun Dhawan, titled Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, directed by David Dhawan.
Bhagnani filed a lawsuit in Katihar, Bihar, alleging the unauthorized use of intellectual property belonging to his older hit films—specifically the iconic song “Chunari Chunari” from Biwi No.1. While Tips Industries holds the audio rights to the music, Bhagnani argues that recreating the track and shooting it for a different production house requires his explicit consent and proper industry ethics.
Key Takeaways from the Press Conference
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Radio Silence from Varun: Bhagnani stated that some bitterness has seeped into his relationships, noting that Varun has not called him in two years despite Bhagnani viewing him “like my child.”
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Trailer Launch Canceled: The trailer launch for Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai was recently postponed due to a stated “technical glitch.” Bhagnani claims this was a cover story to avoid contempt of court, as the filmmakers are aware of the ongoing legal restrictions.
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Call for an Easy Settlement: Despite his heartbreak over being painted as “the thief” in the narrative, Bhagnani emphasized that he remains open to resolving the matter instantly if the other parties are willing to communicate. “Even now I am saying, call them on this call, I will settle it in 10 minutes,” he added.
