Writer Juhi Chaturvedi on plagiarism controversy: Gulabo Sitabo is my original work and I am proud of it

A couple of days ago, Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana starrer Gulabo Sitabo landed into a controversy. Late writer Rajeev Agarwal's son, Akira claimed that the story of the film is a copy of a story written by his late father.

Akira's lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee had stated that Rajeev Agarwal’s story was submitted in Cinestaan India's Storyteller Script Contest and writer of Gulabo Sitabo, Juhi Chaturvedi was one of the jury members at the contest.

However, she has given a clarification on it that it is her original story. In her statement, she said, “My conscience is clear and so are the facts in this matter. Gulabo Sitabo is my original work and I am proud of it. I shared the idea with the director and lead actor of the film in early 2017. I subsequently registered the concept note for the film in May 2018. I also must clarify the speculations around my conduct as a jury member for Cinestaan’s contest. I had no access to the so-called infringed script at any point in time, as alleged. This fact has been independently confirmed by Cinestaan as well. Even the SWA, who has looked at this dispute in May 2020, decided in my favour.”

“I speak now to request the press and public not to be disillusioned by false accusations, which are for publicity only. Acts of harassment, defamatory comments, and leaking confidential notices by the accusers only show their lack of faith in their own case. I stand by my truth,” she added.

Directed by Shoojit Sircar, Gulabo Sitabo was earlier slated to hit the screens on 17^th April 2020. However, now it will release on the OTT platform, Amazon Prime Video. It will start streaming on 12^th June 2020.