Farhan Akhtar-owned Excel Entertainment publicly accused of non-payment of Rs 20-25 lakh to workers on Mirzapur 3 sets

Film Studios Setting & Allied Mazdoor Union (FSSAMU) has now publicly accused Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment. The production company has been accused of non-payment of 300 daily wage workers. The workers were part of the production design team of ‘Mirzapur 3’. Claiming the production house has Rs 20-25 lakh as outstanding dues from May that have not been paid to the workers working on the sets of the show.

Reportedly the works have continued working for several studios in Mumbai and Benares. If reports are to be believed the FSSAMU has written a letter to the media that states that the workers are forced to pull extra hours that are beyond the permissible limit according to the law. Allegedly the works are not provided with adequate seating and quality food on the sets. The General Secretary claimed that they have already written three letters to the production house Excel Entertainment. They further added that the workers have been employed since the month of May and in the 3 months of work they have yet not received their wages. Once the letter to the media was released the FSSAMU was alas contacted and informed that the dues would be settled in 48 hours.

Excel Entertainment has made a statement reading, “This is the first time we are being made aware of such a complaint raised by the union. We would like to further [state] that the FSSAMU has not reached out to Excel through letters, e-mails or phone calls. Excel currently has seven to eight projects under production, and none of these projects have any non-payment-related issues. For the past 22 years of us being in the business, we have never come across any non-payment complaints. Excel has a strict payment compliance policy whereby we directly make payments to daily-wage workers and not to any union. We will investigate this matter from our end. We would like to mention that Excel enjoys a stellar reputation in the industry for treating all collaborators with equal respect and dignity.”