Bangalore: A Nigerian actor who played the title role of a footballer in a hit Malayalam film has levelled allegations of racial discrimination against the producers who paid him far less than the others.

Samuel Abiola Robinson, who has worked in Walt Disney and MTV productions and is the first Nigerian to play a lead role in Indian cinema according to some websites, said he felt racially discriminated at the hands of the producers, even after devoting five months from October last year for the shooting and the promotion of the movie, which has been critically and commercially acclaimed.

"I was paid so little I am ashamed of revealing the amount," Robinson told The Telegraph over phone from Lagos.

In a Facebook post, Robinson released the purported offer letter that showed he was paid $1,800 (Rs 1.2 lakh). According to him, the other actors, who have lesser roles than him, were paid between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 20 lakh.

"During the filming in Kerala, I realised that other actors were paid much more. I then told the producers about the discrimination, but was told they would compensate if the movie did well at the box office," said Samuel.

He said he returned home on Friday without receiving the promised remuneration. "Although I am a well-known actor in Nigeria, I signed up for such a small amount when the producers said it was a low-budget project. I went ahead as I wanted to explore Indian cinema," he said.

The producers of Sudani from Nigeria, which released on March 23, have denied the allegations and said they went by the contract signed for the "low-budget" film.

"It is distressing and a cause of self-contempt for us that racist undertones or interpretations are attributed to this," producers Sameer Thahir and Shyju Khalid said in a Facebook post.

"It is a fact that the film still runs to packed houses. But it is equally true that a share of the profit would not reach us until due course of time elapses and unless the usual procedures in the film industry are completed. We are able to take a decision on sharing the prizes only after the yields return and the accounts are settled," the producers added.

Phone calls and a text message to the producers went unanswered.

Sudani from Nigeria is about an African footballer hired by a local sevens (seven a side) club in northern Kerala. The story revolves around how the club hires him but lands in a dilemma when he is left bed-ridden because of an injury.

A family then takes care of him as their own in a story that reflects the love for football of people from the Malabar region (the northern districts of Kerala) who would go to any extent to support their favourite game. The film received positive reviews for being a minimalistic production with beautiful story-telling.

"My intention is not to bring a bad name to the Malayalam film industry, as I had some great memories from Kerala and its good people. But I am standing up to ensure that no black actor faces such discrimination in the industry," Robinson said when asked if he planned to sue the producers.

The development came to light when he posted a Facebook message citing the discrimination.

"It was nothing violent or directly in my face but for my role in ' Sudani from Nigeria', the producers offered me far less money than Indian actors who are not half as popular or accomplished as I am would normally earn," he wrote.

While Robinson lauded the love from the local people and their culture, he said he had to speak up to ensure the next generation of black actors were treated with respect.