Anu Aggarwal became an overnight star with the 1990 blockbuster Aashiqui, directed by Mahesh Bhatt. But 35 years later, she claims she is still waiting for her full payment for the film. “I haven’t gotten the full fees for Aashiqui till today,” said Aggarwal in a recent interview with Pinkvilla. “I’ve only been paid 60% of the full fees. They still owe me the 40%.”
Anu Aggarwal claims her 40% of Aashiqui payment is still unpaid: “It’s okay. This is my gift to them”
Aashiqui was co-produced by T-Series and Vishesh Films. However, Aggarwal clarified that she never approached the makers to recover the remaining dues. “It’s okay, I earned a lot. I earned much more in modelling. I became a brand ambassador,” she said.
She further added, “There wasn’t even a male actor who was a brand ambassador back then. Only cricket heroes were brand ambassadors then, like Sunil Gavaskar and all.” Referring to her unpaid dues, she said, “Theek hai yaar. Ye meri gift hai unko (It’s okay. This is my gift to them).”
“It Was a Dirty Business Back Then”
While reflecting on the state of the film industry in the 1990s, Aggarwal recalled how the financial dealings were often unorganised and underhanded. “It was a dirty business. Today, I’m not in it. If I do a film now, I can tell you how dirty it is compared to back then. At that time, it was all under the table. It was ruled by people like Dawood Ibrahim. All the money that came into the industry came from the underworld,” she said.
No Casting Couch, But Yes, It Exists Everywhere, She Says
The actress said she personally never had to deal with the casting couch. “My first film was with Mahesh Bhatt. He’s a personality, a filmmaker in his own right. I learnt so much from him. I had close relationships with all my directors. And there was no hanky-panky. There was no casting couch,” she shared.
However, Aggarwal acknowledged that the casting couch is real and not exclusive to the film industry. “Where does the casting couch not exist? What are you saying? Is there no casting couch in banks and corporate houses? Why are we pretending?” she said. “At the end of the day, you should make it. It’s not bad. What’s bad is if you don’t use your full potential.”
Anu Aggarwal acted in films like Mani Ratnam’s Thiruda Thiruda, Rakesh Roshan’s King Uncle, and Return of Jewel Thief. However, she gradually moved away from Bollywood in the mid-90s.
More Pages: Aashiqui Box Office Collection
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