Writer Kritik Kumar alleges that actor Tiger Shroff and director Sabir Khan stole the script of MJ Return. Cinestaan.com spoke to Kumar and Shroff on the row.
Plagiarism row: Tiger Shroff denies stealing script for Munna and Michael
Mumbai - 12 Jul 2016 14:55 IST
Updated : 22:14 IST
Mayur Lookhar
He is just two films old but Tiger Shroff already finds himself in the biggest controversy of his career. The actor and his favourite director, Sabir Khan, are being accused of plagiarism.
Unheralded writer Kritik Kumar filed a complaint at the Versova police station in suburban Mumbai on Sunday, 10 July, against Shroff, Khan and producer Viki Rajani for allegedly stealing the story of MJ Return for their film Munna And Michael.
Speaking to Cinestaan.com, Kumar said, “I have been communicating with Tiger Shroff for the last one year. On 7 July 2015, I had emailed my script to Tiger Shroff. He had really liked the script and instantly okayed it. However, he kept saying he wanted a bigger producer.
"I was willing to get a bigger producer on board. However, nothing happened thereafter. I was stunned when I read in the newspapers about Munna And Michael. I found the theme to be exactly like my story of MJ Return. I’d even finalised Tiger, Disha Patani and Jackie Shroff for the film. Sabir not only has my story, but he has also cast the three in Munna And Michael.
“They haven’t just stolen my story, they have stolen my entire project," the writer claimed, adding that if Tiger Shroff and Sabir Khan do not reply to him within the next few days, he would file a first information report (FIR) against them.
When Cinestaan.com contacted Shroff, he first tried to avoid speaking on the subject. “Sir, I’m not allowed to speak on this issue," he said. "You need to contact the producers."
When told of Kritik Kumar's charge that he had e-mailed his script to Shroff a year ago and that the story of Munna And Michael bears a striking resemblance to his script, the actor opened up a little.
“Other than the theme of Michael Jackson, there is nothing common in the two scripts," Shroff said. "This issue is for the director and the producer to dispute. I'm just an actor. Honestly, I’m not involved in this. So, I can’t give a statement. At the moment, I’m just focused on my next film, A Flying Jatt.”
Attempts to contact Khan and Rajani proved futile. Khan had launched Shroff with Heropanti (2014) and the duo teamed up again for Baaghi: A Rebel for Love earlier this year.
