Sangeeta wants to teach Noor a lesson

Former ‘Ishq Positive’ director rails at current director for withholding payment

LAHORE: Ishq Positive may have hit screens already, but the production is yet to escape the cloud of negativity that has surrounded it right from day one. The film may have failed to impress on the box office, its cast and crew members, both current and former, have been making headlines for quite a while now.

The film’s former maker Sangeeta addressed a media conference at Lahore Press Club, firing a broadside at the film’s new director Noor Bukhari. What started out as a financial dispute has turned into a rather ugly falling-out.

“I worked on Ishq Positive for about 22 days and it was decided that Noor would pay me Rs500,000 in exchange for my services. But I have received only Rs200,000,” said Sangeeta.



“She would also disturb my work and ask me to change the script a lot. I left the film due to the behaviour of Noor and Wali Hamid Ali Khan, which was not acceptable. Besides, Noor has given me a fake cheque that obviously bounced,” revealed Sangeeta. Flanked by Pakistan Film Distributors Association Chairperson Chaudhary Ejaz Kamran, director Joni Malik and screenwriter Pervaiz Kalim, Sangeeta said never in her life has she compromised on the quality of her work. “I warned Noor and Wali against what they were doing but of course, it fell on deaf ears.”

According to Sangeeta, it is now high time that she is remunerated for her participation in Ishq Positive . “I completed most parts of the film and even recorded the songs but Noor is refusing to pay me,” she claimed. “I am seriously ill and still committed to the film. In fact, I was the one who introduced Noor to the film industry in the first place! She should remember that and respect her seniors,” added Sangeeta.

Disheartened by Noor’s alleged behaviour, Sangeeta has naturally taken the matter to heart. “I have spent almost 45 years of my life working in the Pakistani film industry. I have introduced so many actors and artists and I find it so insulting that some of them are working against me,” she said. “Rest assured, I will not spare Noor! I will teach her a lesson.”

The film-maker recently filed a case against Noor in the Sindh High Court, accusing her of withholding the remainder of her payment and issuing a press statement against her. “Fortunately, almost all film-related associations are taking my side and after thorough discussions with them, I decided to take the matter to the courts. Now, it is the law that will sort out our financial issues,” added Sangeeta.

In an earlier interview with The Express Tribune, Noor provided her side of the story, putting much of the blame on Sangeeta. “She is telling nothing but lies! None of the things she has mentioned were decided on paper and if she has any proof of me not paying her, she should submit it in court too,” said Noor. “This is all just propaganda against me. But a time will come when I have successfully proved Sangeeta is not right and neither is anything she has said.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2016.

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