Producer Ashwin Varde has refuted actor Paresh Rawal’s recent claims regarding the making of ‘OMG-2’, stating that Rawal allegedly wanted to exclude Akshay Kumar from the project despite it being the superstar’s franchise. Varde issued a detailed statement, calling Rawal’s allegations “shocking, untrue, and unsubstantiated.” He explained how the project originated, highlighting the involvement of writer-director Amit Rai and the resemblance of the subject to the original ‘OMG’.
Varde expressed concerns about the ownership of the franchise, emphasizing that Akshay Kumar’s approval was essential due to the film’s intellectual property rights belonging to him. He accused Rawal of attempting to create a film similar to ‘OMG’ under a different title, which he deemed unethical and unprofessional. Varde clarified that his company acquired the script to protect it after several actors reportedly rejected it, citing loyalty to Akshay Kumar.
According to Varde, Amit Rai remains the sole writer of ‘OMG-2’, with the script registered under his name. Despite Rawal being the first choice for a role in the film, Varde mentioned that Rawal’s involvement was solely as an actor. He detailed a meeting where differences arose between them, leading to the decision to seek Akshay Kumar’s approval for the project. Varde emphasized the ethical and legal implications involved in the process.
Varde disclosed that despite Rawal’s initial involvement, the actor refused to proceed with the project due to creative differences. Pankaj Tripathi eventually replaced Rawal in the film. Varde concluded by stating that Rawal was credited as a producer in ‘OMG-2’ even though he had minimal contribution, and he was paid for his role in the movie. Varde denied cheating Rawal and asserted that they prevented him from engaging in similar actions.
