Music director Tanishk Bagchi has publicly accused production house Yash Raj Films (YRF) of withholding Rs 8 lakh in royalty payments for the title track of the hit movie Saiyaara, despite the song's massive popularity. According to TV9 Bangla, Bagchi revealed his financial dispute with YRF in an emotional Instagram post on Saturday, highlighting that he has not earned a single rupee from the widely acclaimed track.

The Saiyaara title song has become a favorite among audiences, played repeatedly even a year after the film's release. Bagchi stated that although YRF initially paid him for the work, all the money was consumed by live mixing and music production costs, leaving him with zero personal profit. Furthermore, he claimed that the outstanding royalty of Rs 8 lakh remains unpaid to date.

Expressing his frustration, Bagchi compared the withheld amount to the cost of common groceries, emphasizing how this experience has altered his perspective on the film industry. He also mentioned that moving forward, he will collaborate only with producers and filmmakers who respect artistic creativity and integrity. Despite his grievances, Bagchi ended his post by paying respect to director Mohit Suri and lyricist Arshad Kamil.

Yash Raj Films responded swiftly with an official statement denying all allegations. The company clarified that the Saiyaara title track was a joint creation by Tanishk Bagchi, Fahim Abdullah, and Arsalan Nizami, with royalties equally divided among the three as per contractual agreements. YRF asserted that all dues have been paid on time and no payments are pending.

The controversy took another twist when, just hours after YRF's rebuttal, Bagchi deleted his Instagram post without offering any further comments. While the music director has remained silent since, speculation continues within Bollywood circles about the unresolved financial and creative tensions between the artist and the production house.

Why this matters

This dispute highlights ongoing challenges in the Indian music industry regarding fair compensation and recognition for artists. It also raises questions about transparency and trust between creators and major production companies. Such conflicts may influence how artists choose their collaborators and negotiate contracts in the future.

As the debate unfolds, the incident underscores the importance of honoring creative rights and ensuring timely payments to sustain healthy industry relationships.