The family of braveheart flight purser Neerja Bhanot's family has taken makers for Bollywood blockbuster and national honor winning film “Neerja” to court for not sharing profits from the award winning Bollywood film, Neerja, on her life.
The family accused the producers of backing from their word of sharing 10 percent of the net profit of the movie.
“Our family has filed the case against them (producers) because there was no mutual understanding. Above that they have never tired to reach us which is totally unacceptable,” Neerja’s brother, Akhil Bhanot, told The Statesman.
The family moved the court after both sides failed to resolve the money sharing issue and even failed to agree on the appointment of an arbitrator. The matter will be heard in July. The family has moved the petition for appointment of an arbitrator to resolve the dispute.
The family has battled that the makers had, in the understanding made on September 2, 2013, consented to pay the family a settled remuneration of Rs.7.5 lakh and share 10 per cent of every penny of the net profit of the film.
The movie was co-produced by ace fashion photographer Atul Kasbekar, who is the chief managing director of Bling Entertainment Solutions Ltd, by both the brothers of Neerja- Akhil Bhanot and Aneesh Bhanot.
Neerja's character was portrayed by Sonam Kapoor, who received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Neerja who laid down her life, saving passengers on board Pan Am Flight 73 flying from Mumbai to the US.
She was then working as a senior flight purser on with the airlines. On the fateful day of September 5 1986, when Neerja was on her usual duty, the flight was hijacked by four armed men at Karachi Global Air Terminal in Pakistan.
For her act of courage, Neerja was awarded Taking the Ashoka Chakra, India's most noteworthy peacetime heroism grant for bravery, in 1987. She was the first female beneficiary of the gallantry award.