The highly anticipated return of the iconic comedy franchise, Bhagam Bhag 2, has hit an unexpected and messy roadblock. Fans expecting to see Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Manoj Bajpayee back in action will have to wait longer, as a legal battle between powerhouse producer Ekta Kapoor and director Raaj Shaandilyaa has forced the production to slam the brakes.
The Root of the Conflict
The trouble began when Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures filed a legal case against director Raaj Shaandilyaa, alleging a significant breach of contract. Reportedly, Shaandilyaa was under a strict three-film agreement with Kapoor’s banner.
The dispute centers on claims that the director moved forward with two major projects outside of Balaji—including Bhagam Bhag 2—without obtaining a mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC). Sources suggest that Ekta Kapoor was also aggrieved by the fact that an advance payment for a third film under her banner had neither been utilized nor returned before the director took on external work.
March Schedule Shelved
The timing couldn’t be worse for the production. A massive 25-day shooting schedule was slated to begin on March 2, 2026, with filming locations planned across India, including Lucknow.
However, following the legal notice sent to Shaandilyaa and the film’s producers (Ashwin Varde and Akshay Kumar’s Cape of Good Films), the team decided it was too risky to proceed. To avoid further legal complications on set, the March schedule has been officially shelved.
Akshay Kumar Caught in the Crossfire
Reports indicate that lead star Akshay Kumar was unaware of the brewing legal storm until just days before the cameras were set to roll. With the shoot now cancelled, the dates for the primary cast—Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Manoj Bajpayee—have been released.
This creates a significant scheduling nightmare. While the producers are hoping to resolve the issue amicably or potentially bring in a new director, the delay is a major blow. Most of the lead actors have already committed to other projects starting in June, meaning if Bhagam Bhag 2 doesn’t find a solution soon, it could be pushed to the back burner indefinitely.
Raaj Shaandilyaa Responds
Breaking his silence on the matter, Raaj Shaandilyaa has called the allegations “unfounded.” In a public statement, he clarified that he had legally terminated his arrangement with Balaji Telefilms over two weeks ago and remains confident in his legal standing. Despite the current halt, Shaandilyaa maintains that the film is still “on track” and will proceed once the air is cleared. To know such latest updates tuned tellyboosters.com Thank you!
