Writer-director Amit Rai has reacted sharply to Paresh Rawal’s claims that he co-wrote the story of the Akshay Kumar starrer OMG 2 but was never given credit for it.
In a new interview, the filmmaker questioned the 71-year-old actor’s claims and said he has proof that the story belongs to him alone.
Speaking to Hindustan TimesAmit Rai said, “On the basis of which fact are you saying this? First, he needs to answer this. He is merely making a claim. You can say very little. He is a bade actor; I cannot go up to an actor of his stature and ask why is he saying this?”
Related: Paresh Rawal reveals why he quit ‘Hera Pheri 3’ amid Akshay Kumar legal notice
The filmmaker added, “Proof of that is the certificate from the Screenwriters Association and the stamp that is put by the person who sees the script; it has my name.”
He said OMG 2 is like his child and that, as far as he knows, he is the creator of the film. He said he raised the film to go to school and college.
“Maine film hai aur bana di hai. Bohot jaldi jaag gaye hai woh,” Rai said, adding that Rawal’s claims could only be verified by the actor himself, the production house, or Akshay Kumar.
According to the Hera Pheri‘s Babu Bhaiyya, his original version was a father-son drama about sex education, public humiliation and a parent’s fight for justice, and did not feature God or any divine character. He said he got no credit for the story or concept in the final film.
Talking to Vickey Lalwani, the Hulchul actor said, “I had approached Amit Rai, the director of Road to Sangam, and asked him if he was planning another film. I admire him a lot. I told him, ‘I have an idea. Let’s sit and write it.’ I told him I wasn’t a writer, but I could contribute ideas and help identify where we were going wrong because I understand screenplay to some extent.”
The story was about a schoolboy whose private act is filmed and circulated, leaving him ostracised, and his father’s fight to defend him. Rawal said the script was narrated to Anurag Kashyap and later to Somen Mishra of Dharma Productions, who, he recalled, “outright said it wouldn’t work.”
Rawal said the story was never meant to be a direct OMG sequel — he wanted a biker, not a godly figure, to guide the father. He said he approached Ajay Devgn and Salman Khan for that role, staying away from Akshay Kumar on purpose.
He claimed Akshay’s involvement came up later through producer Ashwin Varde, after which he left the project and refused to appear in the film.
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