OMG 2 Producer Ashwin Varde REACTS To Paresh Rawal’s ‘Shocking’ Story-Credit Claim For Akshay Kumar Starrer; Says, “The Film Idea Was Mine”

Paresh Rawal recently claimed that the story that became OMG 2 was his idea, which he had developed with director Amit Rai. However, he stated that the concept changed significantly when Akshay Kumar became involved, leading Rawal to decide to stay away. In response, OMG 2 producer Ashwin Varde has dismissed all such claims, calling them “shocking, untrue and unsubstantiated.” Scroll down to read the full story.

OMG 2 Producer Ashwin Varde REACTS To Paresh Rawal’s ‘Shocking’ Story-Credit Claim

In an official statement while speaking to Pinkvilla, the producer said, “These allegations leave me with no option but to publicly set the record straight. I would like to share my version of the journey of OMG 2, as it really happened.”

He continued, “I must also state that Paresh Rawal was given due credit as the PRODUCER in OMG 2, even though he had made zero contribution to it. He chose to give the credit to his wife, Swaroop Paresh Rawal, and his business partner, Hemal Thakkar. Not just that, Paresh Rawal was also paid a stipulated amount of money for OMG 2, which he conveniently forgets to mention in his recent interview.”

“I would like to state again that nobody tried to cheat Paresh Rawal of anything. The only thing we are guilty of is stopping him from doing the same,” added producer Ashwin Varde.

“It was senior actor Pavan Malhotra who first recommended writer-director Amit Rai’s name to me. I had worked with Malhotra in Mubarakan, a film that I produced. I met Amit for a completely different film. Post that, Amit and I became friends, and we’d often meet at his office in Bandra, Mumbai. On one of those days, during a casual conversation, Amit briefly narrated a subject to me, which stayed with me. That was the subject that eventually became OMG 2,” added the producer.

What Left The Producer Concerned About OMG 2

Reiterating his concern, Ashwin Varde said, “But I had a concern, OMG cannot be made without Akshay Kumar or his approval, since I was aware that the IP rights of the film belonged to him.” “Amit had asked the same question to Paresh, and Paresh had told him that the IP belonged to him (Paresh) and there was nothing to worry about. Though Amit still had reservations, Paresh informed him that even if OMG Part 100 had to be made, only he would write and direct it, suggesting that he was the film’s rightful owner. That’s why Amit went ahead and finished his script, which is entirely his own. The only difference was that the character of God (later played by Akshay Kumar) was that of a fakir,” he added.

The producer further explained that Paresh Rawal’s intentions became clear to him after this. He realised Rawal was trying to make OMG 2 under a different name, which he called ‘unethical’ and ‘unprofessional.’ “It was trying to steal someone else’s creation and property, and use it under a guise. For me, that is nothing short of theft,” he added.

He continued, “I realised then that the script needed protection, and that’s when my company (Wakaoo Films) acquired the script. It was, and still is, registered under the name of Amit Rai, who is the sole writer of the film. It is completely unfair and unwarranted on Paresh’s part to have expected any credit for the film’s script, since he never mentioned this in our many meetings. Perhaps because it is simply not true.”

“After we acquired the film, on Amit’s behest, I met Paresh, but that was purely to cast him in the film. We met once at the Willingdon Club in Mahalaxmi and once at the Mangi Ferra restaurant in Juhu, where we discussed his role and character,” he added.

Paresh’s Reaction To Script Being Taken To Akki

The producer spoke about why it was necessary to take the script to Akshay Kumar first, since OMG 2 was turning out to be very similar to OMG. He shared how he was shocked to see Rawal’s reaction. He said, “I met Paresh for the third time at Soho House in Juhu, where I told him that I would have to take this script first to Akshay Kumar since this is too much like OMG, and it would be unethical on my part not to do so. I was shocked to see his reaction. He was emphatic that this film cannot be OMG – he kept repeating that without giving any plausible reason. It became obvious that he wanted to keep Akshay Kumar out of the project for reasons best known to him.”

He continued, “Being a producer myself, I would never do anything detrimental to another producer. It’s like making a script similar to Sholay without permission from Sippy Films. Just changing Thakur Baldev Singh’s character to a woman wouldn’t change the fact.”

“I tried explaining the ethical implications and legal ramifications, but Rawal was stubborn. His continuous argument was, it cannot become OMG. But since the script belonged to us now, we decided to do the right thing. And that’s how OMG 2 happened,” added Varde.

“Rawal says in his podcast that he approached several actors with this script, and they all turned it down. He forgets to mention why—they all told him, ‘This is OMG, and that is Akshay Kumar’s film. Why should we do something that belongs to him? Or go get his approval?’”

“Despite all that, Rawal was still the first actor we approached. Akshay Kumar also spoke to him and tried to convince him to do the part. But he refused to budge. We waited almost two months, then moved on. Throughout, I reiterate that Rawal’s involvement was solely as an actor. An actor agreement was exchanged between us at that time,” concluded Varde.

About OMG 2

Directed by Amit Rai, it is the sequel to Akshay Kumar and Rawal’s 2012 film OMG – Oh My God. The first film told the story of Kanji Lalji Mehta (played by Rawal), who files a case against God for the destruction of his shop in an earthquake.

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Also Read: Paresh Rawal Praises Kapil Sharma Show, Sunil Grover’s Talent; Says, “Competing With That Kind Of Comedy…”

Akankshya Mukherjee

Akankshya Mukherjee is a dynamic and ambitious individual poised to make waves in the realm of Media and Communication. With a passion for creativity and a drive to contribute to forward-thinking organizations, Akankshya embodies adaptability and a hunger for learning. Having already garnered experience through involvement in various organizations, she has honed the skill of quickly adapting to new environments and challenges. She sees each opportunity as a chance for personal and professional growth, eagerly embracing roles in communications and content writing.