Dhoni sues company for not paying endorsement fees

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has sent a legal notice to a Chennai-based healthcare company for allegedly defaulting payment of his brand endorsement fees.

The healthcare company, Sujatha Biotech, failed to pay endorsement fees, payable quarterly, since the deal was signed in 2008, the cricketer's business manager Prateek Sen said.

"After paying the initial token amount, they did not pay Dhoni the remainder of the fees. We have, therefore, sent a legal notice to them," Sen.

"The company is still using Dhoni's name and his photograph on their products. When they haven't paid the money, how can they use his name to sell their products," said Sen, director of sports and celebrity management firm Mindscapes Maestros.

Dhoni was roped in as a brand ambassador by the company for two years to endorse Nivaran 90 cough syrup and Memory Vita line of products, which include health drinks.

The total amount due to the cricketer was said to be around Rs 5.5 crore.

Officials of the biotech company were unavailable for comment.

Endorsing close to 22 brands, the charismatic cricketer is estimated to be earning around Rs 80 crore annually from endorsements.