A major legal battle has erupted in Bollywood as producer Vashu Bhagnani`s Pooja Entertainment has filed a ₹400 crore lawsuit against Tips Industries, its promoters Ramesh Taurani and Kumar Taurani, and filmmaker David Dhawan over the alleged unauthorized use of songs from the 1999 hit film Biwi No. 1.
The dispute centers around the iconic tracks Chunnari Chunnari and Ishq Sona Hai, which originally featured in Biwi No. 1, produced by Pooja Entertainment and directed by David Dhawan. According to Bhagnani, these songs have been recreated and incorporated into the upcoming film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai without obtaining the necessary permissions from his production house.
Vashu Bhagnani files Rs 400 crore lawsuit
The suit, filed before the Bombay High Court, seeks damages worth Rs 400 crore and requests immediate injunctive relief to prevent the release, distribution, exhibition, streaming, and commercial exploitation of the film and any promotional material featuring the disputed songs. Bhagnani`s legal team argues that Pooja Entertainment continues to hold crucial rights related to the original works and that the alleged use amounts to a violation of its intellectual property.
This is the latest development in an ongoing legal tussle that has been unfolding for weeks. Earlier this month, a court granted interim protection to Pooja Entertainment in its case against Tips Music, providing temporary relief while the matter remains under judicial consideration. The producer has consistently maintained that the songs cannot be recreated or exploited commercially without his consent.
All about the Chunari Chunari controversy
However, Tips Music and the makers of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai have strongly rejected the allegations. The company has asserted that it is the lawful owner of the music rights and has described Bhagnani`s claims as baseless and legally unsustainable. Representatives of the film have also accused the producer of attempting to damage the project`s reputation ahead of its theatrical release.
The controversy has attracted significant attention because it involves long-time industry associates. David Dhawan directed both Biwi No. 1 and the upcoming Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, starring Varun Dhawan. As legal proceedings continue, the dispute has reignited debate within the film industry about ownership of music rights, intellectual property protection, and the complexities surrounding the recreation of classic Bollywood songs.
