Ekta Kapoor loses non-payment suit
Handsome actor Pulkit Samrat (Lakshya in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi) has taken his mentor Ekta Kapoor to court for non-payment of dues, and got a ruling that will resonate with hundreds of TV actors, reports tabloid Mumbai Mirror.
Delhi boy Pulkit who's with Balaji Telefilms since June 2006 was apparently promised a meaty role in Kyunki…But after the initial few months his role was cut down to just a few lines, leaving him with little work. According to the Mirror, the actor was also not paid for several months and his dues accrued to Rs 3.24 lakh. Frustrated, he complained and wished to work outside Balaji. But according to his contract, he had to work for the serial and the production house for "three years". When Pulkit insisted on working outside, Balaji allegedly floated false stories in the media that he had been sacked.
Taking it no more, Pulkit sued Ekta and Balaji. "He was not given any work between November and January, nor was he allowed to work with other companies. Nobody is giving him work because of the said contract," argued Pulkit's advocate SU Kamdar on Wednesday.
The tabloid reports that on Wednesday, February 6, 2008, Justice DY Chandrachud of the Bombay High Court appointed an arbitrator and instructed Ekta Kapoor not to "arm-twist" the actor and stop him from working for other producers outside Balaji. "Pending arbitrator's order you will not take any coercive steps to preclude him to apply for some other commercial endorsements," Justice Chandrachud observed.
Next Page: Pulkit Samrat's quote
