Casting Director Alleges Unpaid Dues by Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt, Who Remains in Jail

Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt’s troubles show no signs of easing. After being denied bail by the Rajasthan High Court, both he and his wife remain in jail. Now, a casting director has accused Bhatt of failing to clear pending payments for a past film project.

New Allegations of Unpaid Dues
Vikram Bhatt and his wife, Shwetambari Bhatt, are currently incarcerated in connection with a ₹30 crore fraud case. Recently, a casting director for Bhatt’s 2023 film 1920: Horrors of the Heart has come forward claiming that the filmmaker has not paid the cast and crew their dues. Parag Chaddha, a prominent Bollywood casting director, shared on social media that despite repeated requests, Bhatt has not cleared the pending payments.

These allegations come just days before Bhatt’s upcoming film Haunted 3D: Ghosts of the Past is set to release in theaters on 6 February 2026.

Parag Chaddha’s Statement
Parag Chaddha, who has previously worked on films like Ek Tha Tiger, Band Baaja Baaraat, and Rabba Main Kya Karoon, posted a note on Instagram along with screenshots of text messages exchanged with Bhatt. In the post, Chaddha stated:
“As of February 2026, our full payment is still pending. Over the past few years, the only response we’ve received is that ‘funds are not available’.”

Payment Was Promised After Film’s Release
Chaddha claimed that he and his team had been repeatedly asking for payment for years but received no response. The film 1920: Horrors of the Heart was released in June 2023, with assurances that the casting fees would be cleared post-release. The movie reportedly earned ₹14.26 crore at the box office, against a budget estimated between ₹5–10 crore. Despite this, many cast and crew members have yet to receive their payments.

Background: The ₹30 Crore Fraud Case
In December 2025, Vikram Bhatt and Shwetambari Bhatt were arrested by Rajasthan Police from Mumbai and placed in judicial custody in Udaipur. The case was filed by Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF and Fertility Centre, alleging that the couple, along with others, committed fraud worth ₹30 crore under the pretext of film production. Charges include embezzlement and criminal breach of trust.