The explosive revelations come at a highly sensitive time. David Dhawan and music label Tips Industries are currently preparing for the release of their upcoming film, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, starring Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, and Pooja Hegde.
The feud has escalated from a personal fallout into a strict legal battle over intellectual property. Bhagnani has already moved court to stop the film’s team from using a recreated version of the iconic song “Chunari Chunari”—a track originally featured in his own 1999 production, Biwi No. 1.
“I Was Just a Namesake Producer”
The 2020 remake of Coolie No. 1, starring Varun Dhawan and Sara Ali Khan, skipped theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic and premiered directly on streaming platforms. While streaming deals usually provide a safety net for producers, Bhagnani revealed that the project was a massive financial disaster for his banner, Pooja Entertainment.
Bhagnani claimed that he was left holding the bag for a poorly managed budget while having zero creative say in the project.
Going a step further, the veteran producer questioned the massive industry premium placed on the filmmaker, claiming he overpaid significantly based on personal trust. “I paid David ji big money to make that film; almost ₹70 crores, which was not even his worth,” he added.
The Silent Treatment from Varun Dhawan
Beyond the financial devastation, Bhagnani expressed deep emotional bitterness regarding how he was treated by the Dhawan family after the film sank. He particularly targeted Varun Dhawan, stating that the young actor showed absolute indifference toward the financial damage his father’s production methods caused.
“Varun never even bothered to check ki uncle ka nuksaan hua hai; kaun poora karega? (that uncle has suffered a loss; who will make up for it?)” Bhagnani told the media. He noted that there has been an absolute block in communication, adding, “Varun hasn’t called me in two years anyway. We made Coolie No. 1 in 2020 and suffered a loss… he never even boggled to ask how I was doing.”
Bhagnani also revealed behind-the-scenes friction during the 2020 shoot, showcasing how the father-son duo allegedly ran the project without consulting him. He claimed he wanted to shoot Coolie No. 1 in London to take advantage of a substantial UK government filming subsidy, which would have drastically reduced costs. However, David Dhawan flatly refused.
“David declined to shoot there. He told me, ‘Varun is saying that if we show a coolie (railway porter) in London, the media would make fun of our film and troll us.’ But later, they shot a part of the film in Bangkok. So, according to David ji, a coolie can go to Bangkok, but he can’t go to London!” Bhagnani shared, pointing out the lack of commercial logic.
Broken Promises and the “Chunari Chunari” War
According to Bhagnani, David Dhawan originally acknowledged the massive ₹27 crore deficit and promised to make amends. During the pandemic, David allegedly told him, “Aapka jo bhi nuksaan hua hai, we’ll take care of it in the future. Let’s start Biwi No. 1 [Part 2].”
Pooja Entertainment subsequently spent six months developing a script for a Biwi No. 1 sequel. However, the project was suddenly stalled when David’s other son, director Rohit Dhawan, informed Bhagnani that the script was not ready. Trusting the family, Bhagnani decided not to rush the creative process.
The real shock came months later when Bhagnani discovered through trade news that David Dhawan had quietly teamed up with veteran producer Ramesh Taurani of Tips Industries to direct Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai.
The situation turned ugly when leaked on-set videos surfaced, showing Varun Dhawan dancing to a remixed version of “Chunari Chunari”—the chartbuster song from Bhagnani’s original Biwi No. 1.
| The Core Disagreements | Vashu Bhagnani’s Stance | The Dhawans / Tips Stance |
| Financial Accountability | Lost ₹27 crore on Coolie No. 1; claims David Dhawan mismanaged the ₹70 crore budget. | Handled production during an unpredictable COVID-19 streaming transition. |
| Song Rights (“Chunari Chunari”) | Owns the film/video IP; claims it is unethical to reuse his hit track without permission. | Tips Music maintains they legally bought and own the complete music rights. |
| Industry Ethics | Believes David Dhawan should have asked for an NOC (No Objection Certificate) out of respect. | Tips called Pooja Entertainment’s legal claims “malicious” and “misconceived.” |
“How can David Dhawan use the same songs from our film in his son’s movie, that too for a Ramesh Taurani production?” Bhagnani questioned. “There should be some ethics in the industry. Agreed that Ramesh Taurani paid you money, but you can’t recreate the same song from my production. At least, he should have called and told me… I would have given the NOC and would not have minded also.”
Current Legal Status
The battle lines are officially drawn. Tips Industries has vehemently denied Bhagnani’s allegations, releasing a statement calling Pooja Entertainment’s legal maneuvers a deliberate attempt to sabotage their upcoming film. Tips firmly maintains that because they purchased the audio rights to Biwi No. 1 back in 1999, they are the rightful owners of the music catalog and have the legal authority to exploit it.
However, Bhagnani has already scored an initial victory. A civil court in Katihar granted Pooja Entertainment a status quo order after reviewing the case materials. Bhagnani claims that while Tips holds audio rights, they are illegally manipulating video rights and asset cross-overs without proper clearances.
With Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai scheduled to hit screens on June 5, the film’s promotional campaign faces severe hurdles. Bhagnani concluded his media address on a dramatic note, emphasizing that his fight is now about self-respect rather than money: “After taking legal action, maine apne aap ko maara hai (I have hurt myself). If David Dhawan tells me, I’ll jump from 22 floors for him, but it has to be for an ethical cause.”