Producers of horror-comedy Stree embroiled in a financial dispute

Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK of D2R Films and Dinesh Vijan of Maddock Films are embroiled in a financial dispute over the profit share of their recent film, Stree. Directed by Amar Kaushik, Stree is a horror-comedy, starring Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, and Pankaj Tripathi. The film, released on August 31, earned more than Rs 120 crore at the Indian box-office and was declared a major hit. However, it has now been alleged that despite a 50-50 partnership between the producers, Vijan has refused to split the profit of Rs 40 crore with Raj & DK. He has also claimed that Raj & DK did not contribute financially to the film nor fully produce it. 

A source close to D2R Films reveals that Vijan has only agreed to pay Rs 5 crore to D2R Films, and says, "Stree is out-and-out Raj & DK’s creation. Whether it was writing the script, story and screenplay, getting Amar Kaushik (their first AD on Go Goa Gone) to direct the film or Rajkummar Rao to star in it." 

The source adds, "Raj & DK were already producing the film when Dinesh contacted them and convinced them to let him be part of the project. Not only did they oversee the shoot throughout the schedules in Chanderi and Bhopal, but were also leading every single process from casting, finding the crew, recce, shooting to editing, music, mixing and the final cut. Everyone who worked on the film — the actors and the crew — know their contribution to the film."

On the other hand, another source close to Maddock Films has accused Raj & DK of defaulting on their contract and trying to snatch credit from director Amar Kaushik and the film's additional dialogue writer, Sumit Aroraa. This source also claims that it was Vijan who got most of the male actors on board and took care of the production. 

Raj & DK are known for directing films like Shor in the City, Go Goa Gone and A Gentleman. They co-wrote the screenplay of Stree, inspired by the urban legend of Nale Ba.

Dinesh Vijan founded Maddock Films in 2014. He is producing Amar Kaushik’s upcoming film, Bala, co-starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar.