Firoz Nadiadwala's Welcome To The Jungle hits a snag after receiving a non-cooperation order from FWICE for alleged non-payment of Anees Bazmee and crew members' dues.
Producer Firoz Nadiadwala is in hot water after making his long-awaited announcement for his new project Welcome To The Jungle on Akshay Kumar's birthday.
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), a Mumbai-based film industry workers union with over 500,000 members, has issued a cease-and-desist order against Nadiadwala and his prospective behemoth Welcome To The Jungle.
In a letter dated September 9, 2023, the FWICE president accused Firoz Nadiadwala of failing to pay dues to various artists who performed in Nadiadwala's Welcome Back in 2015. Director Anees Bazmee, makeup artist Bashar Khan, cinematographer Kabir Lal, actor Adi Irani, actor Mushtaque Khan, and actor Swatantra Bharat are among the performers. Director Bazmee is owing Rs 2 crores on his own.
Anees said in an interview with this writer during the release of Welcome Back in 2015 that Firoz had agreed to pay him Rs 11.27 crores as his directorial fee. He only paid him Rs 6.64 crores out of this. Anees had given up Rs 2.62 crores freely. Anees merely asked Firoz for Rs 2 crores from the delayed payment. This does not appear to have occurred.
It appears that Firoz's past ghosts have returned to haunt him, and there is no way he can move forward with his grandiose 24-actor Welcome To The Jungle without first paying the artists who collaborated with him on the previous film in the hilarious saga.
