Subhash K Jha looks back at the one where Mohanlal fell out with Ram Gopal Varma over Company.
The fallout had all the makings of a classic Greek tragedy. But with elements of high comedy thrown in. Ram Gopal Varma and Malayalam superstar Mohanlal were as thick as thieves during the making of Varma’s Company. The actor couldn’t stop praising the director. Varma reciprocated in kind, going as far as to say, “Lal is the best actor and human being I’ve ever worked with.”
Then suddenly things soured between them. Mohanlal filed a case against Varma’s production house for breach of payment. Why was a mild-mannered actor-gentleman like Mohanlal forced to take such drastic action?
Mohanlal explained to me, “When Ramu and the producers of Company came and quoted a fee to me, I said I cannot do the film for the quoted fee, but I’d do the film for free since I had the highest regard for Ramu as a filmmaker. Now, after trying to get in touch with Ramu for five months to get back my fee, I finally said I’d sue the three producers of Company Ram Gopal Varma, Boney Kapoor, and Ashwini Dutt. Ramu‘s response? “Okay, do it, Lal.” Ramu didn’t have the courtesy to call me even once. Why couldn’t he call me and say he had some problems about the money? I was put onto his cousin, and the way this gentleman spoke to me….”
When I informed Mohanlal that one of Company‘s producers, Boney Kapoor, was said to be in serious financial trouble, Mohanlal retorts, “What should I do about it, Sir? When my brother-in-law met him, Mr Kapoor promised to settle my dues. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve called and messaged Ramu. If he only had the courtesy to respond to my SOS messages and told me frankly that he wasn’t in a position to pay me I’d have written off my dues, although 14 lakhs is a lot of money for me. Now it’s no longer my problem. My auditors and lawyers are looking into it. It’s so sad. One call from Ramu would’ve been enough. Now it’s too late. I’ve to get my money.”
