Zee TV's tie-up with Innovative 9 Films Pvt Ltd. has snapped and their dream project Jhansi Ki Rani may face legal tangles. The promos of the same have been airing on the channel for sometime.

It must be recalled that Innovative 9 were initially to start their historical series with the story of Siraj-ud-Daulah. Constant delays and a mishap (set collapse) forced the show's custodians to push Siraj-ud-Daulah on the back burner and instead pick Jhansi Ki Rani. But unfortunately Jhansi Ki Rani too was riddled with problems. It is now heard that both the channel and the producer are claiming to be owners of the title and the concept thus throwing the show into legal tangles.

Offering his version producer Chandan Singh (Innovative 9) informs, "From the past year and a half my team and I have been working on the show. We have done intensive research and have not compromised on a single aspect of the production. We have erected a Rs 9 crore set. Since the past two months Contiloe Films is partnering with us on finances but all of a sudden Zee informed us that they do not want us to produce the show and that Contiloe will now produce it. The project is very dear to me and I can't imagine parting with it. Before things could get murkier I thought of taking my project elsewhere. The title and the concept are with me and I have approached many channels with the same cast, crew and title. I am just waiting for things to materialise."

But according to sources wasn't the channel upset because of the delay in production? "We have just started shooting since the past 12 days, so where is the question of delay? This is a magnum opus and one of a kind show on TV. We have converted a 4.5 acre of jungle into our sets and are working with a crowd of 300 people. In a way this is one of the biggest sets ever on TV so I think it justifies the time that we are taking. Infact when I felt that production is becoming time-consuming, I went to the channel and requested them to replace the director but they didn't pay any heed to it.
So whose fault is it actually? How come all of a sudden Zee realised that we aren't capable of producing the show? The channel told us that they assume we will not be able to pull off the production. Can such a big decision be taken based on assumptions? They are threatening my artists and I am having a tough time handling the pressure. They have even threatened my actors but my actors have stood by me as we all have faith in our project," informs the producer.

"The channel informed us that they have scrapped the show. They actually don't want us to produce the show and want Contiloe to produce it which I am not going to take lying down. How can I give away my child (Jhansi Ki Rani) to someone? Four days ago I called it quits with the channel and now I am approaching other channels to air my dream project."

Nitin Vaidya (COO National channels ZEEL) confirmed the fall-out with Innovative 9 and said," This is a series titled Sarfarosh which was given to Innovative 9. The concept of Jhansi Ki Rani too was given to them but unfortunately the producer failed to deliver. After almost a year of pumping in money we realised that he was not equipped to make such a huge show. He then requested that Contiloe Films be allowed to step in which we agreed to. Contiloe Films too pumped in funds. Even after all this he failed and hence Zee decided to terminate the contract. We have sent him a notice of termination and are asking for recovery of our money with interest. I also wish to state that the idea belongs to us and we will produce this show. "

So what is Contiloe's role now? "To know that you will have to speak to them," Vaidya concluded.

We tried contacting Rupali and Abhimanyu Singh of Contiloe Films, but they both remained unavailable.