The controversy surrounding ‘OMG 2’ has taken a dramatic turn after producer Ashwin Varde responded to Paresh Rawal’s recent allegations. Days after the veteran actor claimed that the idea behind the Akshay Kumar-starrer was his and that he was denied due credit, Varde has issued a detailed statement, rejecting the accusations and alleging that Rawal attempted to make a version of the film without Akshay Kumar’s involvement.
Producer dismisses Paresh Rawal’s allegations
In an interview with Pinkvilla, Ashwin Varde called Paresh Rawal’s claims “shocking” and “baseless,” saying he felt compelled to present his side of the story. “The accusations made by Paresh Rawal in a recent podcast pertaining to ‘OMG 2’ are shocking, untrue and unsubstantiated. 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,” Varde said.
How the script reached Ashwin Varde
The producer revealed that it was actor Pavan Malhotra who introduced him to writer-director Amit Rai. Although they initially met to discuss another project, Amit later narrated a story that immediately reminded Varde of ‘OMG’. According to Varde, Amit disclosed that Paresh Rawal had encouraged him to write the script in a narrative style similar to ‘OMG’.“When I first heard it, my immediate reaction was that this subject resembled the format of ‘OMG’ totally. Then, Amit told me that he had written it in the ‘OMG’ format because Paresh Rawal had asked him to stay as close to ‘OMG’ as possible in terms of the narrative,” he recalled.Ashwin claimed that Amit Rai had initially expressed concerns over the intellectual property rights associated with ‘OMG’, but Paresh Rawal allegedly assured him there was nothing to worry about. The producer further alleged that the actor wanted to move ahead without involving Akshay Kumar, despite the franchise being closely associated with him.“That’s when it became clear to me what Paresh was trying to do. He was trying to make a version of ‘OMG’ under a different name, which is 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 a theft,” Varde claimed.
Why other actors reportedly declined the film
Referring to Paresh Rawal’s statement that several actors had rejected the project, Varde claimed there was a reason behind those refusals.“Paresh 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 turned it down. They did so because they all told him, this is ‘OMG’ and that is Akshay Kumar’s film. Why should we tread into something that belongs to him? Or go and get his approval, they all said,” he stated.Ashwin added that his production house eventually acquired Amit Rai’s script, which remains officially registered in the filmmaker’s name.
Paresh Rawal was approached for a role, says Varde
Despite the disagreements, Varde said Paresh Rawal remained the first choice for an important role in ‘OMG 2’. He revealed that multiple meetings were held with the actor, including discussions at Willingdon Club, Mangii Ferra and Soho House in Mumbai. According to Varde, he informed Rawal that the script would first be shown to Akshay Kumar because it closely resembled ‘OMG’.“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 kept repeating that this film cannot be ‘OMG’ without giving any plausible reason,” he said.Varde alleged that it eventually became apparent that Rawal did not want Akshay Kumar to be associated with the project.The producer also rejected Paresh Rawal’s claim that he deserved story credit. According to Varde, Amit Rai remains the sole writer of ‘OMG 2’, and Rawal’s involvement was limited to acting. He further claimed that the actor was offered the film, an agreement had been exchanged, and he was also compensated as per the contract.“Throughout this journey, I reiterate that Paresh’s involvement with the film was purely in the capacity of an actor and nothing else,” Varde asserted.
Ashwin Varde’s final response
Concluding his statement, the producer insisted that no one had attempted to deprive Paresh Rawal of credit or recognition. “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,” Varde said.
