In a dramatic turn of events, a police complaint has been lodged against actress Digangana Suryavanshi, accusing her of falsely claiming that Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar would present the upcoming web series “Showstopper.” The series, which marks the OTT debut of veteran actress Zeenat Aman, has been mired in controversy and financial troubles.
The complaint, filed by director Manish Harishankar and MH Films, alleges cheating and criminal breach of trust under IPC Section 420 and Section 406. According to the complaint, Digangana Suryavanshi assured the production team that she could secure Akshay Kumar and his company as presenters for the project. She allegedly demanded Rs 6 crore in the actor’s name, along with additional payments for herself and others involved.
Manish Harishankar detailed in the complaint that Digangana initially requested a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to legitimize discussions with Akshay Kumar. The proposed deal included Rs 6 crore for Akshay, Rs 75 lakhs for Digangana, a Mercedes G class for her, Rs 25 lakh for Akshay’s secretary Vedant Bali, and Rs 1 crore for choreographer Ganesh Acharya.
The complaint further reveals that Digangana claimed to have spoken with Akshay Kumar and arranged for two members from his office to review the show. Subsequently, two individuals visited Manish Harishankar’s office, and arrangements were made for Digangana and an editor to travel to Ajmer, where Akshay was shooting, to present the show. However, Digangana allegedly took the footage and met Akshay alone, failing to return the iPad containing the episodes.
Digangana reportedly claimed that Akshay Kumar demanded the full payment of Rs 6 crore in advance to use his name as the presenter. When Manish Harishankar requested a meeting or a phone conversation with Akshay, Digangana allegedly made excuses and did not facilitate the interaction, prompting Manish to file the complaint.
In addition to the police complaint, MH Films has issued a defamation notice to actor Rakesh Bedi and Digangana’s fashion designer Krishan Parmar. They are accused of making false public statements about the project’s status and payments, which allegedly damaged the show’s reputation. Advocate Falguni Brahmbhatt, representing MH Films and Manish Harishankar, confirmed these developments and noted that Digangana allegedly attempted to extort a significant amount of money, threatening serious consequences if her demands were not met.
Digangana Suryavanshi, who began her career as a child artist and later ventured into movies and Telugu cinema, has not yet responded to the allegations. Efforts to reach her for comments have been unsuccessful.
The controversy surrounding “Showstopper” has sparked broader discussions about the authenticity of celebrity endorsements and the integrity of collaborations within the entertainment industry. The series, which was filmed in Bhopal, Indore, and Mumbai, focuses on bra fittings and features a star-studded cast, including Zarina Wahab, Shweta Tiwari, Sourabh Raaj Jain, and Samir Soni.
Despite the ongoing legal battles and financial troubles, Manish Harishankar has maintained that the show is in the post-production phase and that most payments to the cast and crew have been cleared. He has dismissed the allegations of non-payment as baseless and assured that the project is progressing.
However, sources close to the situation have accused Manish Harishankar of making false accusations against the cast members to divert attention from the financial issues plaguing the series. They claim that Manish has not paid Digangana and is using the cheating allegations as a tactic to avoid returning money to financiers.
The series, announced in January 2022, has faced numerous challenges, including budget overruns and alleged mismanagement of finances. Reports indicate that many daily wage workers, including hair and makeup artists, have gone unpaid for over a year, and investors have not seen any returns on their investments.
Despite these setbacks, Manish Harishankar remains optimistic about the show’s future. He has stated that the lead actors’ payments have been cleared, and the production is nearing completion. The director is hopeful of announcing a release date soon and is looking to partner with a reputable OTT platform.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the entertainment industry watches closely, awaiting further developments in this high-profile case. The outcome could have significant implications for the credibility of celebrity endorsements and the trustworthiness of industry collaborations.
