Live performance of Farhan Akhtar called off due to non-payment by the college students
Picture of the note that Farhan posted on FB and clarifying the issue.
Hyderabad: Usually one of the most-anticipated fests in the city, things are looking not so euphoric at Vasavi College of Engineering fest this time round. Farhan Akhtar was to perform at the Vasavi fest, Euphoria, on March 24. The actor had also put up a video confirming that he will be performing in the city. But the show was cancelled and the actor posted a picture of a note on Facebook explaining the last minute change of plans.
The reason stated was, “Due to non-compliance of agreement terms and non-payment of performance fee the Vasavi college show in Hyderabad on Monday March 24 stands cancelled. We regret the inconvenience and disappointment caused to all and we hope you get your refunds back.”
Hundreds of Farhan Akhtar fans who purchased the show’s tickets, priced '500 and '1,000 were disappointed and so was the organising comittee, the Vasavi students.
The student committee who were working day and night for the fest to be a success are keeping up a brave front. “Everybody is disappointed but the fest is still going to happen. While people may mock at us saying that we sold hundreds of passes without any outcome, but the fact remains that Farhan Akhtar was coming to Hyderabad because of Euphoria, Euphoria wasn’t happening because of Farhan Akhtar,” says Paul Oommen, student from Vasavi.
9th Element Entertainments and a person from an event company based in Mumbai was helping the students with the show. And some are wondering whether they were at fault. Ankit Siddhartha, owner of the Hyderabad-based event company 9th Element Entertainments, clarifies, “The students approached me for artiste booking and for the production management. Farhan Akhtar was charging '20 lakh for his performance and the students had to pay 50 per cent in advance, which they did. But they were unable to pay the remaining amount and that’s when the show got cancelled. My company wasn’t involved in arranging sponsorship money at all.”
The representative from the other event management is also quick to defend himself, “I was helping them because I am related to one of the students from the college. Though they approached me about inviting Farhan long back, the confirmation was only made this Friday and that gave us very short time to garner sponsorship money, around '10 lakh; the students were working on getting the rest. I didn’t sign any legal agreement to provide sponsorship.”
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