‘Oh My God 2’ (2023) is back in the news as a new controversy surrounds it. The dispute started when the actor Paresh Rawal claimed in a podcast that he had originally conceived the story of OMG 2, but was never properly credited. This was quickly denied by the film’s co-producer Ashwin Varde and director Amit Rai. Ashwin went further, alleging that Rawal had tried to make a similar film with a different title, claiming that the intellectual property rights belonged to him, while also trying to push the lead actor. Akshay Kumar out of the picture
Paresh Rawal denies any issue with Akshay Kumar
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Paresh was quick to dismiss any suggestion of trouble with Akshay. “Arre bhaiya, Akshay and I are doing Bhagam Bhag 2 next, which is Ashwin’s film. Bhooth Bangla bhi ki abhi. Meri Akshay really has a koi nahi hai problem. Why would he? Akshay had tried to convince me to do OMG 2 too, I told him that it was not the right subject for sex in the middle, if the right subject for sex would be introduced in the film. But they went ahead, the film was successful, I’m happy. Baat abhi bhi lekin vahi hai, Gods were not required in this script,” he said.
Paresh Rawal explains story credit dispute with Amit Rai
On how Ashwin and Amit reacted after their comments on the story credit, Paresh said, “My relationship with Amit goes way back, he is a hardworking and research-based writer. One day I told him, ‘ek idea hai, hum sex par kuchh bana sakte hain, ek chhota baccha hai, masturbate karta hai’…vahaan se baat sheduru huyi we should go.” Prakash Kothari as he needed scientific facts. I wouldn’t say maine likha hai, screenwriters association ke paas aapka hi naam hai (Amit’s) But when you share ideas with each other, usme the mera tha concept, I was just asking for that credit, and no paisa. After many years, while giving the interview, it came out that I would have been happy if I had been credited. I never said Amit didn’t write it.”
Paresh Rawal responds to claims of releasing ‘OMG 2’ elsewhere
The actor wonders why he would seek a writing credit at this stage in his acting career. Responding to Ashwin’s claim that he had launched ‘OMG 2’ a salman khan and Ajay Devgn without revealing his rejection that the IP belongs to Akshay, Paresh says, “Even our name is credited as the producer, IP unki hai. If he really wanted to do OMG 2, he would have told Akshay. I didn’t tell him because the moment we got together, people would have assumed it was OMG 2, which it wasn’t. The producer insisted, but I said I didn’t want to profit from the franchise.”
Paresh Rawal rejects claims of demanding high fees
Paresh goes on to say that after his refusal, word allegedly spread that he had been dropped from the spiritual sequel due to excessive demand for fees. “Agar mujhe paise se mohabbat thi toh kar daalta na? Also, I didn’t write the film, Amit did. Lekin tidbit toh hamare aate hain na, har actor koi na koi ideas deta hai. Chalo maine Amit ko 50 ideas diye, and he rejected 49. But the one he liked generous enough… And you can be generous enough. I have nothing against what Ashwin said. I have so much love and compassion for Amit. Jisko jo bolna hai bol sakta hai.”