Chaos erupted at the So Long Valley premiere on Friday night when actress and model Ruchi Gujjar publicly confronted director-producer Karan Singh. She accused him of duping her of ₹23 lakh under the pretext of launching a television show that never materialized in a shocking moment caught on camera, Gujjar slapped Karan Singh and hit him with a sandal during the film’s launch event. The dramatic scene quickly went viral online.
Protest at the Premiere Turns Violent
Ruchi Gujjar arrived at the premiere with a group of protestors, several held placards displaying the producers’ photos with red crosses. Others carried posters showing them seated on donkeys, protestors shouted slogans condemning the filmmakers. Gujjar confronted the team onstage, leading to a heated altercation, moments later, she struck Karan Singh with a sandal in front of a stunned crowd and cameras.
Fraud Allegations and Police Action
Gujjar alleged that Karan Singh cheated her out of ₹23 lakh by promising a co-production deal and profit-sharing for a TV show, she claimed Singh told her the show would air on Sony TV. She said she transferred funds between July 2023 and January 2024 from her firm, SR Event and Entertainment, into bank accounts linked to Singh’s company, K Studios. However, the promised show was never launched.
She filed a complaint with Oshiwara police, who registered an FIR under sections of cheating “the complainant said the project never materialized and Singh didn’t return her money,” confirmed a police official. Her lawyer also announced plans to file a separate FIR for assault at Amboli police station.
Director’s Denial and Counterclaim
In response, So Long Valley director Man Singh called the incident a “publicity stunt”, he revealed Gujjar tried to block the film’s release in court. However, the court ruled in favor of the filmmakers. He insisted that if Gujjar paid money to Karan Singh, she must produce evidence. Singh added that Gujjar and Karan knew each other well and questioned the timing of the accusations.
Accusations of Misuse of Funds
According to Gujjar, Singh redirected the ₹23 lakh towards the production of So Long Valley, she claimed that after learning about the film’s release on July 27, she demanded a refund. Instead, she alleged, Singh began threatening her.
Investigation Underway
Mumbai Police continue to investigate the allegations; the film’s release went ahead as planned despite the controversy. The incident has ignited public debate on accountability in the film industry and highlighted the risks artists face in informal collaborations.
