Legal Troubles Cast Shadow Over Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt’s Career
The Bollywood film industry was shaken this week by the arrest of prominent filmmaker Vikram Bhatt. Bhatt and his wife, Shwetambari Bhatt, were taken into custody in Mumbai on Sunday, December 7. Their arrest is connected to a major financial fraud case registered in Rajasthan. The case alleges a cheating amount of 30 crore rupees.
Details of the Alleged Fraud
The complaint was filed by Dr. Ajay Murdia, a Udaipur-based businessman and founder of the Indira Group of Companies. Dr. Murdia alleges he was defrauded of 30 crore rupees by Vikram Bhatt and seven other accused. According to reports, Murdia was promised returns of up to 200 crore rupees on his investment, but these promised earnings never materialized.
The Udaipur police, coordinating with Mumbai police, arrested the couple from the Yari Road area in Andheri. They were presented before a holiday magistrate in Mumbai. The court granted the police a two-day transit remand to take them to Udaipur for further legal proceedings.
A Special Request Denied by the Court
During the court proceedings, a unique request was made by Vikram Bhatt. Informed that the journey from Mumbai to Udaipur would be a 15 to 16-hour road trip, Bhatt asked the magistrate if he could travel in his own personal vehicle, a Mercedes. The court denied this request. Following the denial, the filmmaker was transported in one of the vehicles arranged by the Udaipur Police.
Upcoming Film Projects Now in Limbo
This legal development has thrown Vikram Bhatt’s professional schedule into disarray. A key promotional event for his next directorial venture is now uncertain. The film, titled Haunted – Ghosts Of The Past, was scheduled to have its trailer launched on December 19.
Industry insiders now say there is a major question mark over this event. It remains to be seen if Bhatt will be able to resolve his legal situation within the next 11 days to proceed as planned. This adds another layer of disruption to the film, whose release was already postponed from November 2025 to January 2026. Bhatt had earlier stated the delay was to reshoot portions after the visual effects in the teaser were criticized.
The Business Relationship That Led to the Case
The roots of this case trace back to a high-profile partnership announcement in August 2024. At a lavish event in a Mumbai five-star hotel, Vikram Bhatt announced his association with Dr. Ajay Murdia’s Indira Entertainment. The event was attended by several Bollywood personalities, including Mahesh Bhatt and Anupam Kher.
Four films were launched that day: Rann, Viraat, Tu Meri Puri Kahaani, and Tumko Meri Kasam. Bhatt was to direct three of these projects. Notably, Tumko Meri Kasam, which released in March 2025, was reportedly inspired by the life of Dr. Ajay Murdia himself.
Police Outline the Financial Allegations
According to police statements, the business relationship began when Dr. Murdia was introduced to Vikram Bhatt in April 2024 at a Mumbai studio. An understanding was reportedly finalized where Bhatt would handle filmmaking and Murdia would provide funding. A contract worth 40 crore rupees was signed for two films.
Police allege that between May 2024 and June 2025, Murdia made multiple payments totaling 30 crore rupees to Bhatt and associated vendors for these proposed films. The situation soured when the accused allegedly stopped responding to communications earlier this year. This led Murdia to file a formal complaint on November 8, alleging he had been duped.
Vikram Bhatt and the other accused face charges under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for cheating, criminal breach of trust, and forgery. The First Information Report also names Bhatt’s daughter, Krishna Bhatt. As the legal process unfolds, the future of Vikram Bhatt’s immediate film projects hangs in the balance.
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