A huge legal battle awaits producer Dinesh Vijan after his alleged refusal to share the profits of 2018’s surprise hit Stree with his co-producers Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK (known as Raj-DK) who also happen to be the film’s creative producers.
A source very close to the development says the battle threatens to get very ugly as Vijan has failed to live up to his contract.
“As per the contract, Dinesh Vijan was supposed to share 50 percent of the profits with Raj-DK, if and when the film became profitable. Stree went on to become far more successful than expected, having earned more than a '100 crores at the Indian box office. Vijan seems to have got second thoughts over the profit-sharing when he saw the kind of money the film has made,” says the source.
According to sources, Vijan has not shared any of the Stree profits with his co-producers.
“Forget about sharing fifty percent, Vijan has not given Raj and DK a single penny of the profits. Considering how huge the film’s success has become, this is unpardonable. Raj and DK are taking the legal route. Dinesh Vijan will shortly receive a legal notice.”
Sources say Raj-DK have a water-tight contact.
“They are surprised how Vijan thought he could get away with this. Stree was Raj and DK’s project from the start. They created the entire project and brought Rajkummar Rao on board as the lead actor. They would’ve directed the film themselves if it wasn’t for prior commitments. So they put their assistant Amar Kaushik on the directorial chair. But Raj and DK were on the sets every single day looking into the nitty-gritty,” says the source, adding that Dinesh Vijan came into the picture very late. “Stree was almost complete when Vijan offered to join the project as co-producers. If Raj-DK had known how this partnership would pan out, they’d have never agreed to it. It is one thing to try and project oneself as the dominant partner. But to rob the rightful creators of the project of credit and cash, is just not done. Raj and DK will see Dinesh Vijan in court,” he adds.
