LONDON: India is likely to file a civil suit in a London court against Sir Richard Attenborough, tne producer of the film, Gandhi to claim Rs 25 million in profits for the welfare of cine artistes in India.
New Delhi has been compelled to take action against the British film producer following his refusal to honor the 1981 agreement to give five percent profits from the film to the cine artiste’s welfare fund, information and broadcasting minister P Upendra told newsmen.
Sir Richard told information and broadcasting secretary Suresh Mathur here that he wanted to donate the five percent profit to some other charities in India associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s name.
The producer stood his ground with Upendra also, despite requests that he honor the agreement, Upendra said.
The film was a remarkable success and won five Oscars, reportedly making 20 million pounds in profits. At the agreed rate of five percent, the cine workers should have received pounds one million.
Accordingly, a fund was created by India in September 1981, but Sir Richard reportedly refused to remit the money and insisted that his commitment was to contribute only to a fund for the welfare of cine artistes or skilled workers.
The government then created a new fund called, “the cine artistes welfare fund” to accommodate Sir Richard, but he still refused to transfer the amount and the interest over the last nine years.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 6, 1990
