Hindi
SRK’s Ra.one in copyright row
MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan‘s upcoming superhero film Ra.one has landed in the court. The Bombay High Court has observed that prima facie there had been a copyright violation, while reserving the final verdict for later date.
The division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Roshan Dalvi directed the defendants (Sharukh Khan, his production house Red Chillies Entertainment and Eros Entertainment) to deposit Rs 10 million with the court before releasing the movie.
“The defendants are directed to deposit a sum of Rs 10 million as pay-order to the court and then release the movie,” PTI reported, quoting the bench.
The court was hearing the petition filed by Beyond Dreams CEO Yash Patnaik, who said that he is the original copyright owner of the concept and the content of RA.One‘, produced by SRK‘s Red Chillies Entertainment.
The court ordered that if the defendants failed to deposit the money, an injunction against the movie‘s release would become operational.
“It is the most unfortunate part of the film industry that people use others‘ concepts and then don‘t want to pay or give them credit,” the bench remarked.
The court has kept the final decision on the issue of copyright violation pending, and would hear arguments in due course of time.
The movie is to release on 26 October and stars Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal.
Patnaik had sought a stay to the film‘s release until he was given credit for the concept or 10 per cent of the profits, in case he was not given the credit.
Patnaik‘s lawyer, senior advocate Ravi Kadam, said that the superhero character resembled the one in Patnaik‘s concept of 2006, in ‘attributes and appearance‘.
“The super-villain of Patnaik‘s script was called ‘One‘, which has been used by SRK in the movie‘s title,” Kadam said.
Meanwhile, SRK‘s lawyer, senior advocate Virendra Tulzapurkar, said that his client‘s script was completely different. Also, “Patnaik cannot claim copyright as he had developed his concept with a team of experts he had engaged,” Tulzapurkar argued.
Meanwhile, Eros Entertainment‘s lawyer, senior advocate Janak Dwarkadas, argued that the company has acquired world distribution rights at Rs 1.50 billion and has already started transporting prints to theatres, so no stay should be granted at the last moment.
Hindi
ZEE5, Applause announce new film Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa
Rajat Kapoor’s dark comedy thriller to stream on ZEE5 from April 10
MUMBAI: ZEE5 and Applause Entertainment have announced their next direct-to-digital collaboration, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a darkly comic whodunnit set to stream from April 10.
Produced in association with Mithya Talkies and written and directed by Rajat Kapoor, the film marks the latest addition to a growing slate of genre-diverse titles from the two partners. Their previous collaborations include dramas, psychological thrillers and dark comedies, with this outing leaning into a layered murder mystery.
The film features an ensemble cast including Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa and Saurabh Shukla, among others. The narrative promises a mix of satire, strained relationships and hidden tensions, inviting viewers to look beyond the crime to the dynamics that lead up to it.
ZEE5 business head hindi and chief channel officer Andtv Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has been instrumental in building a strong slate with titles such as Bloody Brothers, Mithya and Jab Khuli Kitaab. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, aligning with our focus on genre-led content that resonates with audiences.”
Applause Entertainment business head movies Sunil Chainani said, “This collaboration with ZEE5 continues to stand out for its diversity of genres and narrative styles. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa adds a sharp, darkly comic whodunnit to that mix, driven by Rajat Kapoor’s distinct voice.”
Sharing his creative approach, Rajat Kapoor said he was drawn to the emotional layers behind the genre. “I was interested not just in the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who appear close, yet carry unspoken tensions that eventually surface.”
The partnership between ZEE5 and Applause continues to build on a shared focus on distinctive storytelling, with each project exploring a different tone and genre.
With its mix of humour, tension and ensemble storytelling, the film aims to offer more than just a mystery. It promises a closer look at the secrets people keep, and the consequences when they finally come to light.
