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Bonds and labour

Sharmila Taliculam

Mahima Chaudhary. Click for bigger pic!

This is a first! A filmi protégé -- Mahima Chaudhary here -- being dragged to court by her mentor, Subhash Ghai.

The first sign of trouble came via a full page advertisement in a trade magazine. It announced that Mahima was bound by a Mukta Arts -- Ghai's production company -- contract. And that the lady could not take up any new films or work on any modelling assignments, television shows, or shows abroad without consulting the movie mogul. In short, for the next five years, every step Mahima took needed her censor's clearance -- stamped and approved.

Mahima, for those who came in late, is Ghai's latest discovery -- coming in after Meenakshi Seshadri, Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit, Vivek Mushran, Manisha Koirala -- who starred in Pardes, bagging a Filmfare award for the best debut of the year.

The contract, signed after she was picked for Pardes, stated that she would have to do three more films with Ghai, for Rs 500,000, Rs 700,000 and Rs 1 million respectively. She earned Rs 250,000 for Pardes.

Subhash Ghai. Click for bigger pic!

Apart from that, the contract states that for five years Mahima would have to hand 35 per cent of her earnings to Ghai's welfare fund for his employees.

According to Mukta Arts lawyer R K Midha, Mahima accepted films and did stage shows without the showman's clearance and, worse, refused to hand over the stipulated 35 per cent to the fund.

"She has been keeping all the money to herself. Not only that, she is supposed to allot a few dates to Mr Ghai for any purpose he might require her for. She hasn't," says Midha. Those dates could be for any promotional activity for Mukta Arts or in any other way Ghai chose to dream up.

Mahima apparently wouldn't play ball and accepted a stage show abroad during those very days. That, says Midha, is why Ghai saw red.

"Why should Mahima not accept films?" asks Akansha, her fiery sister. "Or give that money to Mr Ghai?" she adds, affirming that no newcomer should be exploited by making them return a percentage of their earnings for whatever purpose.

Mahima Chaudhary with Subhash Ghai. Click for bigger pic!

This, claims Akansha in a telephone conversation, is proof of Ghai's possessiveness. The director has had trouble with his protégés. Manisha once accused him of unsavoury behaviour; she later recanted, claiming the media had misquoted her.

The Chaudharys seem especially hurt that Ghai said nothing to them before taking Mahima to court.

According to Akansha, on hearing the news Mahima immediately called up Ghai, but he apparently told her that he would see her in court and that he was very hurt. He didn't say why he felt hurt and refused to to speak further with her.

Ghai had already told Mahima that Aishwarya Rai and not she would be playing the female lead in his next film, Taal. He also apparently kept her informed of all his meetings with the former Miss World -- Aishwarya and Mahima incidentally made their advertising debut together in a television commercial for Pepsi -- but since then there has clearly been some souring in the relationship.

"We had such cordial relations with each other that other people in the industry were surprised... But he changed the moment he signed Ash Rai for his film," says Akansha, adding that Mahima had always spoken respectfully about Ghai, even attending the Taal muhurat to wish him good luck and show she had no problems with the arrangement.

Click for bigger pic!

Midha says Ghai didn't mind Mahima accepting outside offers as long as she didn't infringe the contract. But Mahima had accepted roles with other banners without Ghai's okay.

Akansha confirms this, saying that since the contract was abandoned by mutual consent after the release of Pardes, Mahima had not deemed it necessary to ask Ghai. Not so, says Midha. The contract is valid till August 9, 2002. Or else why would they send her a legal notice? He also said the court hearing has been postponed because Ghai could not attend the first hearing.

"They are lying," claims Akansha. "The judge rejected the application, asking why Ghai would want Mahima to sit at home doing nothing. The contract was totally one-sided and like bonded labour," she said.

The main actors here, Ghai and Mahima, were unavailable for comment, being in Madras and out shooting respectively. Thus, for the moment, this is how the case rests.

One thing both Midha and Akansha agree on is that the matter could have been sorted out amicably, and, for all we know, still might.

Akansha says the incident has not affected Mahima's plans of a showbiz career and that offers are still keep coming in. "Mr Ghai says we are being mean now that we are popular. Tell me how? He sent us the notice in the first place. In fact, we are hurt, very hurt."

Ghai's rejoinder