Paresh Rawal Claims Akshay Kumar's OMG 2 Story Was Originally His Idea

Actor Paresh Rawal has claimed that the original concept behind OMG 2, the 2023 film starring Akshay Kumar, was developed by him and that he was not credited for his contribution. In a recent interview, Rawal said he conceived the story that later evolved into the successful sequel to Oh My God! and worked closely with filmmaker Amit Rai during its early development. Speaking to journalist Vickey Lalwani, Rawal said he had approached Amit Rai, best known for directing Road to Sangam, with the idea for a socially relevant film.

He clarified that while he was not a screenwriter, he actively participated in shaping the story, offering ideas and helping refine the narrative during its initial stages. According to Rawal, the original plot revolved around a schoolboy who is caught masturbating, after which a video of the incident goes viral, turning his life upside down. The story, he said, focused on the social stigma surrounding adolescent sexuality and the emotional impact of public humiliation. Rawal added that, in his initial version, the boy's father worked as a tourist guide at the Khajuraho temples.

The veteran actor said Amit Rai later suggested changing the father's profession to that of a part-time priest at the Mahakal Temple, a modification that eventually became part of the screenplay. Rawal claimed that as the story progressed, both of them jointly developed the script and also brought noted sexologist Dr Prakash Kothari on board to ensure the subject was handled accurately and sensitively. Rawal alleged that despite being closely involved in developing the concept and story, he did not receive credit when OMG 2 was released.

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He maintained that the idea was originally his and expressed disappointment that his contribution was not acknowledged in the final project. The 2023 film OMG 2, directed by Amit Rai, starred Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi and Yami Gautam. The film addressed themes of sex education, adolescent health and social taboos, earning praise from critics for tackling a sensitive subject through mainstream cinema.

It also performed well at the box office despite facing scrutiny from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) before its release. Rawal, who played the lead role in the original 2012 film Oh My God!, did not feature in OMG 2.

The first film, co-starring Akshay Kumar, explored themes of religion, faith and blind superstition, and went on to become both a commercial and critical success. As of now, neither Amit Rai nor Akshay Kumar has publicly responded to Rawal's latest claims regarding the origin of the film's concept or the issue of creative credit.

The remarks have sparked fresh discussion about authorship and recognition in the film industry, particularly when projects evolve over several years through collaborative development.

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