Controversy surrounding ‘OMG 2’ takes dramatic turn after producer releases Ashwin Ward Replied Paresh Rawalrecent accusations. Days later, the veteran actor claimed the idea behind Akshay KumarWard issued a detailed statement denying the allegations and claimed that Rawal was trying to make a version of the film without Akshay Kumar’s involvement.
Producers dismiss Paresh Rawal’s allegations
In an interview with Pinkvilla, Ashwin Varde called Paresh Rawal’s claims “shocking” and “baseless” and said he felt the need to state his side of the story. “The allegations Paresh Rawal made about OMG 2 in his recent podcast are shocking, untrue and unsubstantiated. These accusations left me with no choice but to publicly set the record straight. I wanted to share my perspective on the OMG 2 journey because it actually happened,” said Ward.
How the script reached Ashwin Wade
The producer revealed that it was actor Pawan Malhotra who introduced him to the writer-director Amit Rai. Although they initially met to discuss another project, Amit later told a story that immediately reminded Ward of “Oh my God.” According to Wad, Amit revealed that Paresh Rawal encouraged him to write the script in a narrative style similar to OMG.“When I first heard the word, my first reaction was that the theme was exactly like the format of ‘OMG’. Then, Amit told me that he wrote it in the format of ‘OMG’ because Paresh Rawal asked him to be as close to ‘OMG’ as possible in terms of narrative,” he recalled.Ashwin claimed that Amit Rai initially expressed concerns over the intellectual property rights associated with “OMG”, but Paresh Rawal allegedly assured him that there was nothing to worry about. The producer further claimed that although the series is closely associated with him, the actor wants to move forward without involving Akshay Kumar.“It was then that I understood what Paresh was trying to do. He was trying to make a version of ‘OMG’ under a different name, which was unethical and unprofessional. It was an attempt to steal someone else’s creation and property and use it under a guise. To me, it was tantamount to theft,” Ward claimed.
Why other actors reportedly turned down the film
Talking about Paresh Rawal’s statement about several actors rejecting the project, Vader claimed that there was a reason behind these rejections.“Paresh said in his podcast that he approached several actors with the script, but they all said no. He forgot to mention why they all said no. They did it because they all told him, ‘Oh my god,’ it’s an Akshay Kumar film. Why should we dabble in something that belongs to him? Or go and get his approval, they all said,” he said.Ashwin added that his production company eventually acquired Amit Rai’s script, which remains officially registered in the name of the film’s producer.
Ward said Paresh Rawal was approached for the role
Despite the differences, Ward said Paresh Rawal remains his first choice for an important role in OMG 2. He revealed that multiple meetings were held with the actor, including discussions at Wellington Club, Manjefera and Soho House in Mumbai. According to Wad, he told Rawal that the script would be shown to Akshay Kumar first as it was very similar to “OMG”.“I told him I had to give this script to Akshay Kumar first because it was so OMG and it would be unethical if I didn’t do it. I was shocked to see his reaction. He kept repeating that the movie couldn’t be ‘OMG’ without giving any valid reason,” he said.Ward claimed that ultimately Rawal apparently did not want Akshay Kumar to be a part of the project.The producers also rejected Paresh Rawal’s claims that he deserves credit for the story. According to Ward, Amit Rai remains the sole writer of OMG 2, while Rawal’s involvement is limited to acting. He further claimed that the actor was offered the opportunity to do the film and an agreement was exchanged and he was also paid as per the contract.“Throughout this journey, I have reiterated that Paresh’s participation in this film is purely as an actor and nothing else,” Wade asserts.
Ashwin Wade’s final response
The producer concluded his statement by insisting that no one was trying to take away the honor or recognition from Paresh Rawal. “I want to state again that no one is trying to cheat Paresh Rawal. The only thing we should do is to stop him from doing the same thing,” Ward said.
