Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 9: A cheating case involving Rs 3.15 crore has been registered against Kannada actor Dhruva Sarja at the Amboli Police Station in Mumbai following a complaint filed by Raghavendra Hegde, a film producer and director.
The allegations claim that Sarja received funds in the name of producing a film but failed to honour the agreement or return the money. The actor, however, has denied the charges and asserted that the matter will be resolved in court.
According to the complaint, Sarja and Hegde had a working relationship between 2016 and 2018, during which Sarja allegedly approached Hegde with a film proposal titled Soldier. Hegde claims Sarja took Rs 3.15 crore in advance before any formal agreement was signed, promising to begin the film under his banner RH Entertainment.
Hegde alleges that the funds were borrowed on high interest and transferred directly to Sarja’s company. Instead of launching the project, Sarja is said to have used the amount to purchase an apartment, while continuing to assure that the film would be made. Although an official agreement was signed only on February 21, 2019, the financial transaction had already occurred by then. Based on this, Hegde approached Mumbai police, leading to the registration of an FIR against the actor.
In response, Ashwin, manager for Dhruva Sarja, dismissed the allegations as false and misleading. He confirmed the transfer of Rs 3.15 crore in 2018 for the Soldier project—Rs 20 lac from Nandini Entertainment and the remaining Rs 2.95 crore from Raghavendra Hegde.
“Due to internal issues between Nandini Entertainment and Raghavendra, the ?20 lakh was returned. The rest of the amount was earmarked for production,” Ashwin stated.
He further explained that Raghavendra had requested three months’ time to proceed with the project but failed to meet commitments. “Whenever we called, he said he was busy. After four and a half years, only the first half of the script was shared. The second half is still awaited,” said Ashwin.
The actor’s team also revealed that creative differences emerged, with Raghavendra reportedly suggesting the film be made in Telugu or Hindi, citing budget concerns. “Dhruva insisted on doing it in Kannada. Even during our June 28 meeting, Raghavendra proposed Hindi or Telugu. Dhruva again refused,” Ashwin added.
Eventually, both parties agreed to move ahead with a Kannada version, and Raghavendra asked for dates from October, to which the actor’s team claims they consented.
Despite these developments, a legal notice was served in July, alleging non-fulfilment of the agreement. Ashwin said they tried to reach Hegde over 100 times, but received no response. “We’ve never refused to return the money or make the film. Raghavendra kept postponing talks. Now he’s taken the legal route. Everything will be settled in court. We’re confident the truth will come out,” Ashwin concluded.
As the legal battle unfolds, the case has created a buzz across the Kannada film industry, with the FIR marking a significant escalation in a long-pending creative and financial dispute.