Arjun Bijlani reveals how he avoided falling for the energy drink scam worth Rs 1.48 crores; says 'I found it a little fishy and didn't get the payment'

It was recently uncovered that an energy drink business defrauded over 25 television performers by failing to pay them for promotional work. Celebrities affected include Kushal Tandon, Karan Kundrra, Tejasswi Prakash, Ankita Lokhande, Adrija Roy, Harsh Rajput, Jay Bhanushali, and Abhishek Bajaj. A police complaint has been filed, and five persons have reportedly been arrested in connection with the incident.
Actor Arjun Bijlani, who was also approached for an endorsement, told SCREEN that he was fortunate to avoid the fraud. He explained that he had agreed to participate but pulled out at the last minute when he saw red flags.
The actor added that celebrity manager Roshan Garry Binder had approached him about a campaign that included developing three to four promotional reels. Because Roshan was a well-known industry figure, he trusted her. However, when it came time to pay, the company repeatedly delayed. Arjun, who generally insists on receiving an advance payment, became sceptical when the firm told him to shoot first, promising that the payment would follow.
Arjun stated that he was unwilling to proceed until the agreed-upon terms were honoured. He believed that trust alone was insufficient in such transactions, particularly when payments were involved.
The actor also added that the company claimed to be associated with cricketer Surya Kumar Yadav. When he enquired whether he could confirm this with the cricketer himself, he was told it was unnecessary. This made him even more sceptical, so he backed out of the arrangement. He stated that he initially assumed the campaign was legitimate because many of his industry acquaintances, including Ankita Lokhande, had previously taken part.
Arjun shared, "There was some kind of mention of Surya Kumar Yadav, so I asked them if I should speak to Surya Kumar Yadav, and they said it wasn't needed. I found it a little fishy, and because I didn't get my payment, I cancelled it. I was told that some people had already done it, like my friend Ankita (Lokhande), so obviously, you tend to think that if everyone has done it, it is more or less genuine. But I work on certain principles, and since they didn't honour their commitment, I didn't shoot for it."
Arjun revealed that he was promised Rs 40 lakhs for four to five promotional reels, each priced at Rs 8 lakh. He was informed that the remaining money would be processed once he had completed the first reel. However, when the corporation failed to make any initial payments, he chose to step back.

While Arjun considers himself fortunate to have dodged the swindle, he cautioned that such transactions are frequently tricky. He emphasised that brands should pay at least 50% upfront rather than delaying payments for months.
The police are presently examining the situation. Meanwhile, the media portal contacted Tejasswi Prakash and Ankita Lokhande, but both declined to comment.