Legal Tussle Over Unpaid Fees Intensifies as Crew Claims Evidence
The legal battle over alleged unpaid dues for the movie “Paid Palki” has sharpened, with the film’s director and lead actress presenting a cache of proof to counter the claims of actor Satendra Sony. Both Pushpendra Singh and Pragati Chauhan asserted that they have comprehensive documentation, ranging from signed contracts to payment receipts, that negate accusations of assault, threats or financial malpractice.
In a detailed briefing, Singh outlined the payment cadence agreed upon before shooting commenced. An advance of ₹50,000 was transferred to Satendra, exceeding the contractual 15 % advance of ₹45,000. The remaining balance was to be released in accordance with milestones defined in the contract.
Satendra’s demand for the full amount on day four of the shoot prompted Singh to explain that the next instalment was not scheduled for that day. After a brief discussion, Satendra returned to work but repeated his demand the following morning. When the actor again refused to continue, Singh asked him to leave the premises.
Efforts to provide an interim payment were thwarted when Satendra switched off his phone, checked out of his hotel and vanished. The director received a call from the hotel confirming the actor’s departure without notice, leaving the production team to face unexpected financial strain, as the project had already taken loans against future earnings.
Police were called in after the disagreement escalated. Both parties appeared before officers, and a settlement was reportedly reached, a copy of which Singh says is in his possession. He emphasized that had any physical misconduct occurred, the police would have acted against the crew on the spot.
Chauhan corroborated Singh’s narrative, stating that she, too, invested personal funds in the venture and observed no harassment toward Satendra, Sridhar Dubey or Pankaj Sharma. She described a shift in attitude among several cast members who began arriving late, missing shoots and demanding full payment weeks ahead of schedule.
The fallout has rattled the film’s financing. Several investors have begun withdrawing capital, intensifying the financial pressure on the remaining team members.
Earlier, Satendra had posted a video alleging non‑payment, physical assault, death threats and an attempted forced ride in a vehicle. The All India Cine Workers Association demanded an FIR and an impartial probe by the state authorities.