Ajay Devgn has landed in legal trouble as the makers of the original Tamil film Kaithi have approached the Bombay High Court, alleging violations related to the remake rights of Bholaa.

Dispute between Kaithi and Bholaa began in 2019

The dispute has been initiated by Dream Warrior Pictures, the production house behind Kaithi. According to reports, the company has claimed that it holds the sole copyright and remake rights to the 2019 hit film. The production house had earlier entered into agreements regarding the Hindi remake, which later became Bholaa.

However, the producers now allege that certain financial obligations tied to the remake rights agreement were not fulfilled. As per their claims, only a partial payment was made, while the remaining agreed-upon amount including additional tranches and variable payments linked to the film’s earnings remains unpaid.

The issue escalated after multiple attempts by the original producers to resolve the matter reportedly went unanswered. Following this, they issued a legal notice demanding dues along with interest, warning that failure to comply would lead to termination of the agreement and reversion of rights.

When the dispute was not resolved, Dream Warrior Pictures moved legal forums, initially approaching the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). However, the tribunal dismissed the plea, stating that contractual and intellectual property disputes should be addressed in civil courts.

Further proceedings in the case

Subsequently, the producers filed a commercial intellectual property suit in the Bombay High Court. In their plea, they have sought an injunction to restrain the makers including Ajay Devgn’s production banner and associated companies from distributing, streaming, or monetising Bholaa and any related content. They have also requested damages and a formal declaration that the agreement stands terminated.

On the other hand, the defence has reportedly argued that jurisdiction over the matter lies with courts in Chennai, as per the original agreement terms. The matter has since been heard by the court, with the judge reserving the order on the issue of jurisdiction.

The controversy has once again highlighted the complexities involved in remake rights within the film industry, especially when multiple parties and agreements are involved. As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome could have significant implications for how such contracts are structured and enforced in the future.