Even as the biopic on Sarabjit Singh is yet to go on floor, controversies are making sure the film remains in news. While a woman claiming to be Sarabjit's real sister sent a legal notice to the film's makers last week, his brother-in-law has now come forward demanding a role in the movie and a portion of the compensation received from the government. Sarabjit died in a Pakistan jail after assault by a fellow inmate two years ago.

Baldev Singh, husband of Sarabjit's sister Dalbir Kaur, whose character will be portrayed by Aishwarya Rai in the untitled film, told TOI on Tuesday that he had spent his life savings for the Save Sarabjit Campaign' initiated by his wife, but the family had now disowned him. He claimed that he had sold his property at Laksar and resigned from his job as manager at a petrol pump to work for the campaign when Sarabjit was jailed in Pakistan.

"Now, I am penniless and my wife, Dalbir, and daughter, Swapandeep Kaur, have dumped me," he said. He claimed that the movie on Sarabjit's life would be complete only if he plays the "vital" role that he had played in real life. Baldev also claimed that after Sarabjit Singh "left'' for Pakistan, he had adopted Sarabjit's daughter, Swapandeep, and his name is mentioned as father in every certificate.

He also showed a marksheet of Swapandeep Kaur mentioning Baldev Singh as her father and passport with Dalbir Kaur stated as his wife.

However, Dalbir Kaur, who had spearheaded a protracted campaign for Sarabjit's release from the Pakistani prison, said Baldev Singh had not spent a single penny. "He had a Rs 1,500 per month job at a petrol pump in Laksar. How can he claim he had property that he had spent on the campaign?" she asked.

Earlier, a woman named Baljinder Kaur had sent a notice to Aishwarya Bachchan and director Omung Kumar claiming to be the real sister of Sarabjit Singh.

Sarabjit, a resident of border village Bhikhiwind, had allegedly strayed into Pakistan in 1990 in an inebriated condition. He was arrested and Pakistan police slapped cases of bomb explosion and spying against him. He was sentenced to death, but, later, Pakistan's Punjab high court had acquitted him of charges of causing the bomb blast, but didn't rescind his death sentence in the spying case.

He had died in Kot Lakhpat jail on May 2, 2013, following a brutal attack on him by a fellow inmate.