What was anticipated as a celebratory milestone for actress Roma Arora has evolved into a frustrating experience marked by disputes over payment. Known for her performances in Jhanak and Kundali Bhagya, Roma recently made her big-screen debut in Pyar Mei Qurban, directed by Zuber K. Khan and co-produced by Imtiyaz Bhat and Mohammad Tasleem. Instead of relishing the joy of her debut, Roma has voiced her grievances against the film’s producers, alleging unprofessional behavior and failure to fulfill financial commitments.
Roma’s troubles began when she commenced shooting for the film in January 2023. Initially intended as a short film, the project expanded into a feature-length production. Throughout the filming, which wrapped in September 2024, Roma claims that her concerns regarding contracts and payments were overlooked. “I repeatedly requested a contract and signing amount but was never provided with either.
I even sacrificed lucrative television opportunities to remain committed to this project,” she explained. Tensions escalated when producers blocked multiple dates for shooting only to cancel at the last minute, leading to the removal of some of her scenes after she insisted on having a signed contract.
Despite her demands for payment before the second schedule, Roma asserts that the full amount owed remains unpaid. After nine months of filming, she refused to continue without compensation. In December, producer Imtiyaz Bhat transferred a portion of the payment in installments, but a subsequent cheque for ₹36,600 bounced due to insufficient funds.
Additionally, Roma incurred costs of nearly ₹48,000 on her costumes for the film. An invitation to a promotional event in Kashmir turned sour when she was excluded at the last minute, mirroring a similar experience during Mumbai promotions, leaving her feeling humiliated.
Expressing her discontent, Roma emphasized the lessons learned from this ordeal: “Never rely on verbal assurances, and always get everything documented with a signed contract.” She alleges that producers still owe her over three lakh rupees.
On the other side, producer Imtiyaz Bhat has refuted Roma’s claims, sharing his perspective on the situation. He pointed to an email from Roma dated September 26, 2023, in which she acknowledged that her dues were cleared, except for ₹36,600. He stated that he stopped the cheque when Roma refused to complete dubbing, as the agreement stipulated that the remaining payment would follow the dubbing process.
Bhat noted that he did not personally cast Roma; that was the responsibility of director Zuber Khan. However, he mentioned that ongoing conflicts between Roma and Zuber disrupted the shoot, leading to significant delays and financial losses.
Despite the ongoing tension, Bhat asserted his willingness to pay the remaining amount but expressed disappointment over Roma’s handling of the matter. “My reputation is worth much more than ₹36,600, and I would never risk damaging it over such a small amount,” he stated.
Pyar Mei Qurban is described on IMDb as a romantic action drama exploring themes of love, relationships, fate, and revenge. The film portrays the struggle between power and the determined fight of an ordinary man who has lost both his younger brother and his wife.
