Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jul 21:

In a curious case of role reversal, a movie producer of Odisha -- identified as Rajesh Ranjan Pati -- today alleged that a female actor from one of his bilingual movie projects threatens him with casting couch allegations over a pending financial issue.

casting couch Rajesh Ranjan Pati upasana mohanty

“I had signed actor Upasana Mohanty for movie project ‘Gudia Rani’ in September 2015. She had also received an advance to work in the project. The project had to be shelved due to unavoidable circumstances. Now, even though I am trying to get back the money paid to Upasana, she refuses to pay me back. Instead, she threatens to level casting couch allegations and verbally abuses me,” said Pati speaking to reporters today.

Apart from the casting couch allegations, Rout also said that his life is under threat from the actor and her associates.

“I had invested Rs 21 lakh in the movie, but it was never completed on time. Now, whenever I ask them (actors and co-producers) to return me my money, they threaten to kill me and my family. They are also trying to implicate me in a casting couch through Upasana. If I get into any trouble over this, co-producer Babli Kiran, Shankar Goud, Upasana Mohanty and her parents Manorama Mohanty and Arabinda Mohanty should be held responsible. Actor Sambit Acharya and Pranay Jethi are not cooperating with me either,” he added.

Rajesh further claimed that he has made bank transactions for payment and has the record for the same.

“The allegations are absolutely baseless. Instead, he owes me money. I have no idea why he is talking about casting couch. I have not spoken to him in a year,” said Upasana speaking to reporters in her defence.

“I asked him to pay up the entire budget for the movie and assured him that I will shoot and give him the movie. We are still prepared to complete the shooting. The issue came up after he misbehaved with two of the heroines. On one case, the actor left the set with her mother,” said Babli Kiran – also a producer of the movie.

“The shooting was going on pretty smooth. I am not sure what happened between the producers. I have not taken any money from him (Rajesh) anyway. Let him prove that I have taken money from him. I will return, if he proves it. I had signed the agreement with the Telugu producer (Babli),” said actor Sambit.