Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana in a still of Gulabo Sitabo. (courtesy L: ayushmannkhurrana)
Strong points
- The son of the late writer Rajeev Agarwal accused Juhi Chaturvedi of plagiarism
- “Gulabo Sitabo is my original job,” said Juhi
- “I’m proud of it,” she added.
New Delhi:
A few days after Juhi Chaturvedi was accused by the son of the late writer Rajeev Agarwal, Akira, of plagiarizing his father’s story for his next film Gulabo Sitabo, the writer denied the allegation and stated that the film was his original work. Juhi wrote the story, the script and the dialogues of the staging Shoojit Sircar, with the megastar Amitabh Bachchan and the actor Ayushmann Khurrana. He is supported by Rising Sun Films.
Akira’s lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee said that Rajeev submitted his story as part of the Cinestaan India Contest Script Script – promoted by the Screenwriters Association (SWA), of which Juhi was a member of the jury and therefore had access to history.
Juhi said that in 2017, she shared the idea of a “crooked old man” with Bachchan who asked the writer to develop the story.
“My conscience is clear, as are the facts.Gulabo Sitabo is my original work and I am proud of it. I shared the idea with the director and lead actor of the film in early 2017. I then recorded the concept note for the film in May 2018, “she said in a statement.
The writer denied having had access to the so-called “counterfeit” script at any time.
Juhi said the same thing was independently confirmed by Cinestaan as well as the SWA, “which examined this dispute in May 2020 and ruled in my favor. I am now speaking to ask the press and the public not to not be disappointed with false accusations, which are for advertising purposes only. Harassment, defamation and leaking confidential advice from accusers only show their lack of confidence in their own case. I stand by my truth “, she added.
Siddiquee had said earlier, Akira had approached SWA for mediation, who then asked Juhi to submit his script.
The lawyer claimed that Juhi denied having access to the scenario of Rajeev 16, Mohandas Lane, even though it was mentioned in the terms and conditions of the Cinestaan India Storyteller script contest.
However, Anjum Rajabali, president of the Cinestaan script contest jury, said that Juhi had “absolutely no access to this particular script”.
Rajabali said the competition was divided into three stages and that the jury, including superstar Aamir Khan, filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, Juhi, only had access to the first eight final scripts.
“While 16, Mohandas Lane reached the top 20, it did not enter the final list of the 8 scripts that were sent to the jury. The jury, including Juhi, had absolutely no access to any script except the 8 that had been sent to them. Therefore, it is completely false to assume that, since Juhi Chaturvedi was part of the jury of the competition, she had received the said script, “he added.
Rising Sun Films producer Ronnie Lahiri said the controversy appeared to be a “deliberate attempt to slander” Juhi and damage the film.
“Right now, when we made the bold decision to release the film on OTT, these baseless allegations only create unnecessary controversy,” he added.
Juhi has written acclaimed movies like Vicky Donor, October and Piku, all produced by Shoojit.
Gulabo Sitabo is currently preparing its premiere on Amazon Prime Video on June 12.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
