‘Oh My God 2’ (2023) is back in the news as a new controversy surrounds it. The row begins when the actor: Paresh Rawal: claimed in a podcast that he originally conceived the story of OMG 2 but was never properly credited for it. This was quickly denied by the film’s co-producer Ashwin Varde and director Amit Rai. Ashwin continued, saying that Rawal tried to make a similar film under a different title, claiming the IP rights as his, while also trying to push the lead actor. Akshay Kumar out of the picture.
Paresh Rawal denies any issues with Akshay Kumar
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Paresh was quick to dismiss any suggestion of trouble with Akshay. “Arre bhaiya, Akshay and I are doing Bhagam Bhag 2 next, which is Ashwin’s film. Bhooth Bangla bhi ki abhi. Meri Akshay se genuinely koi problem nahi hai. Why would I? Akshay had tried to convince me to do OMG 2 as well, I told him it is if not the right subject, it will insert be talking about the God of the film. But they continued, the film became successful, I am happy. Baat abhi bhi lekin vahi hai, there is no need for Gods in that script,” he said.
Paresh Rawal explains the story credit dispute with Amit Rai
On how Ashwin and Amit reacted after his comments in the story credit, Paresh said, “My relationship with Amit is long, he is a hard-working, research-based writer. I told him one day ‘ek idea hai, hum sex par kuchh bana sakte hain, ek chhota baccha hai, masturbate karta hai’… Prakash: Kothari, because it requires scientific facts. I would not say maine likha hai, screenwriters association ke paas aapka hi naam hai (Amit’s) But if you share ideas with each other, usme concept mera tha, I was just asking for that credit, and not paisa. It only came out after many years while I was giving the interview, that I would have been happy if I had been credited. I never said Amit didn’t write it.”
Paresh Rawal responds to claims that have placed ‘OMG 2’ elsewhere
The actor questioned why he would seek a writing credit at this stage in his acting career. Responding to Ashwin’s claim that he pitched ‘OMG 2’ to: Salman Khan: and Ajay Devgn without disclosing their rejection as the IP belongs to Akshay, Paresh said, “Even our name is credited as its producer, IP unki hai. If I really wanted to do OMG 2, I would have told Akshay. I didn’t tell him because once we were together, people would assume it was OMG 2, which it wasn’t. The producer insisted, but I said I don’t want to cash in on the franchise.”
Paresh Rawal rejected the claims of demanding high fees
Paresh went on to say that after his refusal, news allegedly spread that he was dropped from the spiritual sequel due to an exorbitant payment demand. “Agar mujhe paise se mohabbat thi toh kar daalta na? Also, I didn’t write the film, Amit did it. Lekin tidbit toh hamare aate hain na, har actor koi na koi ideas deta hai. Chalo maine Amit ko 50 ideas, and he rejected 49. But the one he liked already. I don’t hold anything against what Ashwin said. I have a lot of love and compassion for Amit. Jisko jo bolna hai bol sakta hai.”