Boney Kapoor Dismisses Arshad Warsi’s Allegations Over Payment Dispute for ‘Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja’ Song

In a recent interview, veteran producer Boney Kapoor responded to actor Arshad Warsi’s claims of being underpaid for choreographing a song in the 1993 film Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja. The controversy emerged after Arshad Warsi alleged that he was paid ₹75,000 instead of the ₹1 lakh he had originally quoted for the project.

Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Boney Kapoor expressed disbelief at Arshad’s claims, noting that at the time, Warsi “wasn’t a star” and questioning the likelihood of anyone agreeing to pay him such a high amount. Kapoor explained, “I read his statement, and I laughed. The shoot took place in 1992, and he is talking about it now. At that time, he was not a star. Who would have paid him such a huge amount?”

Boney Kapoor Explains Payment Structure

The producer clarified that the choreography for the song, under the direction of Pankaj Parashar, was finished in three days rather than the initially planned four. Kapoor stated that Warsi was paid ₹25,000 per day, totaling ₹75,000 for the three work days. He also mentioned that he barely remembered the incident and expressed surprise that Warsi was bringing it up now. Kapoor suggested that the actor might be seeking media attention, saying, “Everybody wants media attention now, and I am a soft target.”

Pankaj Parashar, who directed the song, corroborated Kapoor’s account, emphasizing that he was in charge of the shoot, not Warsi. He noted that Warsi was a newcomer choreographer at the time, and Parashar’s direction ensured the song was completed ahead of schedule.

Arshad Warsi’s Version of Events

Arshad Warsi had previously shared his side of the story in an interview on Unfiltered by Samdish, where he recounted how he was asked to finish the song in three days to save on production costs. He expressed disappointment at receiving ₹75,000 instead of the agreed-upon ₹1 lakh, despite completing the work in less time. Warsi claimed that the production team argued that his payment was adjusted accordingly since he finished the job in three days instead of four.

Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, produced by Boney Kapoor and starring Anil Kapoor and Sridevi, was released in 1993. Despite its star-studded cast, the film was one of Bollywood’s biggest commercial failures at the time.