In a troubling turn for Bollywood veteran Deepak Tijori, the actor-filmmaker has filed a formal complaint with the Bangur Nagar Police after allegedly being defrauded of ₹5 lakh.
Tijori, known for his iconic roles in Aashiqui and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, was reportedly targeted by individuals claiming to facilitate financial backing for his upcoming film project, “Tom, Dick and Mary.”
The police have registered a case of cheating and criminal breach of trust against three suspects: Kavita Shibagh Cooper, Fouzia Arshi, and an unidentified accomplice.
A Web of Deception: The Script and the Setup
Deepak Tijori had been developing the script for his new Hindi film, Tom, Dick and Mary, since December 2024. During his search for financial partners, a friend introduced him to Kavita Cooper, who allegedly misrepresented herself as a high-level associate of T-Series.
Cooper claimed she had significant influence within Zee Network and the broader media industry, promising to secure the necessary funding for the project. Tijori later discovered that Cooper had already resigned from T-Series at the time of these discussions.
The “Zee Network” Trap
In February 2025, the deception escalated when Cooper introduced Tijori to Fouzia Arshi, who claimed to be a film producer and an entrepreneur launching a new airline. Arshi allegedly promised to obtain a “Letter of Interest” from Zee Network, which would serve as a guarantee to attract other investors.
To “process” this letter, the accused demanded ₹5 lakh. To further gain Tijori’s trust:
- They arranged a call with a man posing as “Mr. Joshi” from Zee Network.
- Believing the call was legitimate, Tijori paid the first installment of ₹2.5 lakh.
- An agreement was signed promising the delivery of the document within a week.
Discovery and Police Action
The fraud came to light when the accused began avoiding Tijori’s calls and failed to provide the promised letter. Suspicious, Tijori conducted an independent verification and found that no one named “Joshi” worked at Zee Network. Realizing he had been duped by the misuse of major corporate names, Tijori approached the authorities.
The Bangur Nagar Police are currently investigating the matter and have stated that the accused will soon be summoned for questioning. This incident marks another challenge for Tijori, who has faced similar legal battles with producers in the past regarding film financing.