Vikram Bhatt faces fresh non-payment allegations from '1920: Horrors of the Heart' crew
Times of India
by TOI ENTERTAINMENT DESKFebruary 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari have been granted temporary bail in a high-profile Rs 30 crore fraud case, but fresh allegations of non-payment are surfacing from the crew of their 2023 film *1920: Horrors of the Heart*. A crew member has revealed that she is owed Rs 20 lakh for her work on the film, despite promises of payment. This comes after casting director Parag Chadha also accused the couple of failing to settle dues, further complicating the legal battle they are already entangled in.
Sneha Sharma, who served as the makeup artist for lead actress Avika Gor on the film, shared her ordeal with media outlet Mid-Day. According to Sharma, she was promised a fee of Rs 20 lakh, but not a single rupee has been paid to her or her team. She detailed how her hairstylist was on the brink of being evicted due to unpaid wages and how the production halted payments midway through the shoot, leaving the crew in financial limbo. Despite reaching out to Krishna Bhatt, Vikram’s daughter and the film’s director, Sharma claims she was dismissed and told that the accounts team would handle it.
The situation has raised questions about the filmmakers’ financial management and accountability. Sharma also revealed that additional days of work were requested from her after the initial shoot, but she refused since previous dues remained unpaid. As a result, another makeup artist was hired for free to cover the remaining filming. This pattern of non-payment has left many crew members feeling exploited and uncertain about their livelihoods.
Directed by Krishna Bhatt, *1920: Horrors of the Heart* starred Avika Gor, Danish Pandor, and Rahul in lead roles and was released in June 2023. Despite its commercial release, the film’s financial dealings have come under intense scrutiny. The ongoing allegations not only cast a shadow over Vikram Bhatt’s professional reputation but also highlight systemic issues of payment delays in Bollywood, which often leave behind-the-scenes workers struggling to make ends meet.
The case has broader implications for the Indian film industry, underscoring the need for
Verticals
worldasia
Originally published on Times of India on 2/14/2026