The ₹8 Crore Question: Did PK Try to Stop OMG? Director Umesh Shukla Speaks Out!

The world of Bollywood is no stranger to rumors and controversies, and few have lingered with as much intrigue as the alleged ₹8 crore offer from the makers of PK to halt the production of Akshay Kumar's OMG – Oh My God!. Both films, released in 2012 (OMG) and 2014 (PK), sparked discussions due to their thematic similarities, centering on questioning religious dogma and the commercialization of faith.

For years, whispers circulated that PK producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra, along with director Rajkumar Hirani and actor Aamir Khan, had approached OMG director Umesh Shukla with a substantial sum to prevent his film's release, fearing a clash of ideas. Now, after years of speculation, Umesh Shukla himself has finally broken his silence on these sensational claims.

The Rumor Mill Churns: The Alleged ₹8 Crore Offer

The speculation gained significant traction, particularly around the release of PK. Reports suggested that when the PK team realized the thematic parallels with OMG, which was still in production at the time, they reportedly attempted to "buy out" Umesh Shukla to avoid any perception of duplication or a direct thematic confrontation at the box office. The figure of ₹8 crore was frequently cited as the supposed offer.

The core of the similarity stemmed from OMG – Oh My God! being an adaptation of Umesh Shukla's own popular Gujarati play, Kanji Viruddh Kanji. Interestingly, Abhijat Joshi, who co-scripted PK with Rajkumar Hirani, is the elder brother of playwright Saumya Joshi, who was closely associated with Umesh Shukla and had even written the film 102 Not Out for him. Sources had suggested that Hirani and Abhijat had seen Kanji Viruddh Kanji and were impressed, leading to their own discussions about a film on the merchandising of religion. However, upon learning about Shukla's OMG, they reportedly revised their script significantly.


Umesh Shukla's Definitive Clarification: "Baseless Rumours"

In a much-anticipated clarification, Umesh Shukla vehemently denied the existence of any such offer. Speaking to various media outlets around December 2014, as PK was generating buzz and controversy, Shukla dismissed the reports as "baseless rumors" and "nonsense."

He stated emphatically, "I don't know from where such baseless rumors have come up. This is nonsense. These [Aamir Khan, Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra] are good people and they can never do such a thing."

Shukla further added a logical perspective to the alleged similarities, noting that when films delve into universal subjects like "God" or "religion," some thematic overlaps are bound to occur. He urged people not to "challenge the creativity of the film unnecessarily and make a big deal about it."

Aamir Khan also echoed similar sentiments, calling the reports "fabricated news" and urging people to verify such claims directly with Umesh Shukla or Paresh Rawal (who played the protagonist in OMG).

The Aftermath: Two Distinct Films, One Powerful Message

Despite the initial controversy and the alleged attempts to stop OMG, both films went on to become significant successes, each offering its own unique perspective on faith and societal norms.

• ***OMG – Oh My God!***, starring Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar, explored the story of an atheist shopkeeper who sues God after an earthquake destroys his shop. It received critical acclaim for its satirical take and strong performances.
• PK, featuring Aamir Khan as an alien navigating human religious practices, became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time, sparking widespread debate and conversation.

Umesh Shukla's clear denial put an end to years of speculation, solidifying that the alleged ₹8 crore offer was nothing more than a persistent rumor. The incident, however, highlights the intense competition and the ever-present churn of news and gossip within the Indian film industry. Ultimately, both OMG – Oh My God! and PK stand as independent cinematic achievements that dared to ask profound questions about faith, demonstrating that powerful ideas can indeed coexist, even with similar undercurrents.