Lights, Camera, Scoop: The Truth Behind Yash Raj Films' Script Cell Contract Clause; Neeraj Ghaywan's 'Homebound' Clarification

What's Your Contract?

The times are so dire and the contracts so backbreaking that one can't blame screenwriters if they find an absurd clause for script submission and swiftly send the screenshot to WhatsApp groups, alerting others to be cautious. Something similar happened on Friday morning when screenwriters' groups buzzed with an apparent 'legal disclaimer' of Yash Raj Films for writers, which many instantly associated with YRF Script Cell, the newly launched platform where writers can submit their ideas.

A screenshot from YRF's website—which also made its way to Reddit, like all out-of-context things do—highlighted a contentious clause: the production house claims ownership of "unsolicited submissions," allowing them to exploit the material without compensation, credit, or notice, unless a prior written agreement is signed. The language was stark, instantly raising concerns about intellectual property rights and fair treatment of creators.

Naturally, people were livid as the image surfaced merely days after YRF kick-started Script Cell to empower screenwriters and fed right into the anxiety of writers battling poor pay and bad contracts. However, it wasn't true.

Sources, including senior writers and makers, told THR India that the screenshot that surfaced online was not part of the YRF Script Cell. "The legal terms and conditions, which were still worryingly worded, were part of a separate disclaimer on their website to act as a deterrent to stop people from sending unsolicited material. But the terms and conditions as part of the Script Cell are quite fair, following the standard industry practice and nothing like what the screenshot of the website claims to be," sources said.

The said legal disclaimer over unsolicited submissions was removed from the YRF website as the Script Cell will now act as a more regulated way of entries for submissions

One Clarification After Another

Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan has delivered one of the best Indian films of recent times, but as happens with most news-making movies, Homebound continues to be anchored in social media discourse... some out of concern, some misplaced.

A snippet of an Indian Express report went viral on X, which claimed that the family of Amrit—a Dalit boy whose life and death form the inspiration of the film's heartbreaking story—was paid merely ₹10,000 by Karan Johar-backed Dharma Productions, who never kept in touch after gathering information.

"I am unaware of any film being released," Amrit's father was quoted as saying about Homebound, India’s official entry to the Oscars. The social media uproar triggered a detailed response from Ghaywan, who had to clarify that the measly amount mentioned in the report was not the compensation.

"Some of you have expressed concerns about reports claiming that the family whose life inspired Homebound was compensated with a mere ₹10,000—a shamefully low amount. I want to clarify that this sum was a small token I personally gave to Ram Charan ji (Amrit’s father) many years ago during my initial research, simply as a parting gesture."

He added, "Please do not mistake this for the full extent of the compensation provided. Neither I, nor the producers, would ever reduce such a deeply personal story to such a pittance. The families’ contributions are invaluable and deeply meaningful to me. We have honoured their trust and stories with sincere respect and significant support. They have expressed their happiness with me about the same and I personally don’t want to mention the number because that would disrespect the bond I share with Amrit and Saiyub—the original heroes of Homebound."

While the outrage over this incident was largely fair, Ghaywan and team had been actively online, defending the film from some misplaced anger as well. Pre-release, when the censor details were reported, some users on X called out the makers for what they believed was a slim attempt to not let the film be butchered by the CBFC. The anger was directed at Ghaywan and co, for not putting up a braver fight to safeguard the film, which was released on the last Friday of September with over a minute chopped off from the original cut.

Some tagged Ghaywan, declaring that they would rather watch a torrented version of the film than what Dharma put out on the big screen, prompting Ghaywan to tweet, "Please go watch in theatres. Trust me."