Neerja Bhanot family miffed with producers of biopic

The family of flight purser Neerja Bhanot is contemplating legal action against the producers of "Neerja" for allegedly not honouring their commitment to share the ten percent of collections made by
the movie.

 

Atul Kasbekar, who is the chief managing director of Bling Entertainment, claimed the all financial transactions after the film’s release have been cleared and shared as per the contract with the Bhanot family “immediately and in a transparent manner.” 

“All financial transactions post release have been shared with the Bhanot family immediately and in a transparent manner. Their share of the profits, which is a share of ours, has been immediately offered. They have declined to accept the same and now wish to get a share of the studio profits. This is effectively a retrospective negotiation and not as per what is signed by them years ago,” read an excerpt from the statement.
    
The film had grossed an estimated Rs 125 crore in worldwide earnings and bagged the National Award for Best Hindi Feature Film, among several other film awards. 
     
The Bhanot family is miffed that the producers, Bling Unplugged, run by fashion photographer Atul Kasbekar, did not honour their commitment to share 10 per cent of the box office collections with the Neerja Bhanot Trust and the family. "Neerja always said do your duty come what may and never tolerate injustice... this is what I can tell you at this stage," Neerja's brother Aneesh Bhanot, told PTI over phone when reached for his comment on the matter. 

 

    
The film featured actress Sonam Kapoor in the lead role. "Neerja", directed by Ram Madhvani, bagged the 'Best Feature Film in Hindi' award at the 64th National Film Awards this year. Just two days before her 23rd birthday, Neerja Bhanot gave up her life while trying to save the lives of passengers during a terrorist-hijack of a Pan-Am flight at Karachi international airport in Pakistan on September 5, 1986. 
     
Neerja, who was the senior flight purser of Pan-Am 73 Bombay-Karachi-Frankfurt-New York flight, was killed in the shootout following the hijack. She was given the Ashoka Chakra, country's highest peacetime gallantry award for bravery, in 1987, for her act of bravery and sacrifice.