Upasana Singh, a well-known actor-producer in the Hindi and Punjabi film industries, filed a court case against Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu on Thursday. Harnaaz has been accused by Upasana of failing to honour her work commitment for the former’s Punjabi production Bai Ji Kuttange. According to their agreement, Harnaaz was supposed to provide 25 days for the film’s promotion but has not done so. According to Upasana, winning the pageant has changed the young artiste.
The civil suit was filed under Section 10 of the Specific Relief Act, 2018, read with Section 73 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, to seek damages from the defendant for failure to perform her obligations under the agreement. Harnaaz has been sued for Rs 1 crore in damages by the complainant firm, represented by Karan Sachdeva.
“My film’s release date was 27 May, and for us it was the biggest day of our lives when Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu became Miss Universe,” Upasana Singh said of the damages. We had a party and celebrated her. Everyone was aware of how close I was to her. She stopped taking my calls after I told her that my film’s promotional dates are around May 27. Then I began messaging her, asking, ‘The film is set to be released on May 27.’ Please tell me what dates you will give me for promotions.’ I started sending her emails, but she never replied.”
“I sent her the poster of the film announcing the release date, and every actor in the film shared that poster on their social media handles, but she did not,” the troubled producer continued. At the time, I thought it was very strange.”
Upasana Singh also claimed that she changed the release date of Bai Ji Kuttange from May 27 to August 19, hoping that Harnaaz Sandhu would be available for promotions.
“I requested her so much, but then I realised that since she had just won the pageant, she might have some commitments, so I changed the date.” I moved the release date of the film to August 19. Then I began contacting her, but I received no response. She began to avoid everyone in my friend’s social circle. Someone called her and told her about a show in Dubai, to which she agreed and went over the details. But when the same person told Harnaaz to talk about the dates for my film, she hung up. “This is how she insulted me,” the 47-year-old actor said.
Harnaaz Sandhu’s financial loss was further explained by Upasana Singh.
“I sent her a notice that if she does not give me dates, I will file a case because I lost my distributor in this case because the previous distributors knew Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu was in it.” Not me, but others were supposed to invest in my film. Today, I have a loan of Rs 1 crore 60 lakh to release this film solely because of Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu’s actions. My film was delayed, and I am still interested in it. So many posters, so much publicity had occurred previously, and everything had gone to waste,” revealed Upasana, whose son Nanak will make his acting debut in the upcoming film.
“At this age, too, I was duped by her,” she added. I never imagined she could do this to me.”
Harnaaz Sandhu was crowned Miss Universe on December 13, 2021. Harnaaz has changed, according to Upasana Singh, and she no longer respects the Punjabi film industry.
“She sees Punjabi films as minor, and she believes she will do Bollywood and Hollywood.” You say ‘Chakk de fatte’ when you win Miss Universe. I am proud to be a Punjabi, as you say. However, you regard Punjabi as a minor language. I made such a large film. My entire life savings is invested in it. My son’s career is at stake, and Punjabis are now considered minorities by you. “Nowadays, Hollywood and Bollywood are huge,” Upasana said.
“So many big celebrities don’t leave their mother tongue,” the senior actor continued, “but she considers us so small that she didn’t share even one poster.” How long does it take? It takes about 30 seconds. She posts pictures of her parties, Holi, and other events. Forget emotionally but as a professional wasn’t she supposed to take a stand with me? I have a 25-day agreement with her, but she can’t give me 5 days?”
Not only as a producer, but also as a person, Upasana Singh feels betrayed. The actor reminisces about the first time she met Harnaaz Sandhu, who was a struggling actor at the time.
“She was a struggler at the time, and she had come to me with her mother.” She had requested that I give her a chance. I liked her and thought we should give newcomers a chance. I came from a small town and worked very hard to get to this point. I understand the difficulties that new girls face in finding work. I understand it, and so I’ve always thought that when I make movies, I’ll give it to new people who deserve it, so they don’t have to struggle like I did. I gave her the opportunity with that intention. “After that, I gave her a role in another film,” Upasana recalled.
According to Upasana Singh, the court will issue a summons to Harnaaz Sandhu in the future.
“I’m doing this so that the rest of the world understands that what happened to me shouldn’t happen to them,” she concluded.