Mumbai, February 23 – Bollywood actor Neil Nitin Mukesh has decided to step down as the brand ambassador of the music reality show "Universal Idol" after facing payment issues from the organizers, HMC events.
Neil claimed in his latest social media post that three cheques issued by the organizers were returned, and when he and his team contacted them, it proved fruitless.
His social media post read, "This is to formally announce my exit as Brand Ambassador from "The Universal Idol" associated with HMC events. Despite repeated assurances, my agreed payments were not honoured. Three cheques issued towards the same have been returned unpaid/ bounced, constituting a serious breach of trust and commitment. Multiple follow-ups by my team and me personally and opportunities to resolve the matter amicably were made, unfortunately, without result."
Neil has announced his disassociation with "Universal Idol" and the organizers in all capacities.
"In light of the above, I have withdrawn from all present and future associations with Universal Idol, HMC Events, and Mr. Shakeel Haasan and his associates with immediate effect," he added.
Neil concluded his post by saying, "This note is issued in the interest of transparency and to caution fellow artists, partners, vendors, and collaborators to exercise due diligence and be mindful of claims, commitments and payment assurances made. I reserve all rights to pursue appropriate remedies available to me under law."
In terms of work, Neil last appeared in the black comedy thriller "Ek Chatur Naar".
Himanshu Tripathi has written the story of the project, which was directed by Umesh Shukla.
The movie also stars Divya Khosla in the lead role.
Set against the backdrop of a quirky small-town Indian landscape, the movie tells the story of a seemingly charming woman with a naivety that masks her sharp wit. Her ambition allows her to outsmart everyone around her.
When a lucrative opportunity presents itself, she seizes it, leading to an unpredictable twist that tests her cunning.