On Friday, the Bombay High Court confirmed its previous ruling, blocking the release of the film titled “Shaadi Ke Director Karan aur Johar”, as it was deemed to infringe upon filmmaker Karan Johar’s personal rights by seemingly misrepresenting his identity.
Judge RI Chagla, who was handling the case alone, refused the filmmakers’ request to lift the temporary halt on their movie. He noted that there appeared to be strong initial evidence suggesting a violation of Karan Johar’s personal rights. According to Hindustan Times, the judge emphasized that the film’s title would likely cause viewers to connect it directly with Karan Johar. As a result, the court decided to make the temporary suspension of the movie release permanent.
In June 2024, the director of Rocky and Rani’s Love Story went to court, submitting a petition against IndiaPride Advisory Pvt Ltd, the production company responsible for the movie. He claimed that using the title violated his rights to privacy, publicity, and personal reputation.
The lawsuit designated Bablu Singh (writer-director), India Pride Advisory (producer), and Sanjay Singh as defendants, asking for an immediate halt to the film’s premiere, initially set for June 14. Simultaneously, Karan filed a temporary petition advocating for the postponement of the movie’s release during the ongoing legal process.
The director insisted that he had nothing to do with the production and claimed the producers were using his name unauthorized. He also suggested that the movie’s title was intentionally linked to his well-known career to attract more viewers, abusing his fame and professional image for their benefit.
Karan expressed concern over how marketing materials, like trailers and posters, heavily showcasing his name, had damaged his reputation by invading his privacy, infringing on his rights related to publicity and personal identity. Even though ‘Karan’ and ‘Johar’ are distinct in the title, KJo contended that due to his prominence in the entertainment world, it was clear that the reference was to him.
13th June, 2024 saw the court supporting his stance, imposing a hold on the film’s premiere. However, in December 2024, Indiapride Advisory contested this decision by filing a lawsuit against it, aiming to overturn the ban.
Advocate Ashok M. Saraogi, acting on their behalf, stated that Johar intentionally postponed his petition in order to interfere with the movie’s premiere, despite the fact that all preparations for its release had been finalized. He also pointed out that Karan Johar’s full name was not explicitly mentioned and suggested that the filmmakers were willing to make adjustments to address any issues raised.
Regarding the counterclaim, Karan emphasized that he and the producers were cognizant of the ongoing legal disagreement but continued with their promotional activities regardless. He firmly stated that the improper utilization of his name constituted a clear infringement upon his personal privacy and the worth of his brand.
In the end, the court decided to support Johar, permanently stopping the movie from being shown. The judges found that exploiting his identity without permission violated his rights to personal identity, publicity, and privacy. Moreover, they rejected the notion that slight alterations in the film could solve the problem, arguing that such changes wouldn’t prevent potential audience confusion.
The court also dismissed the filmmakers’ claim that Karan Johar had filed his challenge against the movie’s release too late, despite already receiving certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The judges made it clear that getting a CBFC certificate does not limit an individual’s ability to take legal action for infringements on their personal and creative property rights.
The court strongly emphasized that, should immediate legal help not be granted, the filmmaker (Johar) would face an ‘unfixable’ or ‘permanent’ damage.
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2025-03-08 08:37