Latest news with #ShaadiKeDirector
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First Post
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
HC upholds stay on film Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar for violating Karan Johar's rights
The court said on Wednesday that Karan's name has obtained brand value. When used together, Karan and Johar point to the celebrity and filmmaker Karan Johar. read more The Bombay High Court on Wednesday upheld the stay on the release of a movie, tentatively titled Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar or Shaadi Ke Director Karan Johar, saying the name infringes upon filmmaker Karan Johar's personality and publicity rights. A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice M S Karnik said Karan has garnered 'immense goodwill and reputation' in the entertainment industry in India and globally. The court dismissed the appeal filed by Sanjay Singh, the movie's maker, challenging a March order passed by a single bench of the HC granting a stay on the film's release. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The single bench had passed the order on a plea filed by Karan against the movie and its title. The court said on Wednesday that Karan's name has obtained brand value. When used together, Karan and Johar point to the celebrity and filmmaker Karan Johar. HC said since Karan Johar's name has become his brand name, the director has the economic right to commercially exploit the same as per his discretion. 'The name Karan Johar is solely associated with the respondent No 1 and forms a germane part of his personality and brand name,' the court said in its order. The high court said that the courts in India have time and again recognised personality rights and publicity rights of public figures, including celebrities. 'The respondent, being a celebrity, is entitled to the protection of his personality and publicity rights and can claim protection against unauthorised commercial exploitation by third parties,' the court said. The high court also refused to accept the submission of the plaintiff, Sanjay Singh, that they were willing to add the word 'aur' (and) between the names Karan and Johar in the movie title. In its opinion, the court said, the use of the two names in any combination was sufficient to create confusion in the minds of the public. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The appellant cannot be allowed to exploit the reputation and goodwill of the respondent in this manner,' the HC added.
India Today
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Bombay High Court upholds previous ban on film title using Karan Johar's name
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea by the makers of the Hindi film 'Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar', effectively continuing the stay on its release and promotion. The court upheld filmmaker Karan Johar's objection that the use of his name and personality traits in the film's title without consent violated his personality and publicity rights. The division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice MS Karnik refused to modify the earlier order passed by a single judge, which had granted an injunction against the film's release in March. Johar had first approached the court in June 2024, seeking a permanent injunction, stating that the unauthorised use of his name was causing irreparable damage to his reputation and goodwill. The court reiterated that Johar's name had acquired a distinctive identity and could not be commercially used without authorisation. 'The defendants have used in their title the words Shaadi Ke Director, followed by Karan Aur Johar, which is a direct and undeniable reference to the plaintiff,' the court had earlier noted. During Wednesday's hearing, advocate Ashok Saraogi, representing producer Sanjay Singh, requested that the court include in its dismissal order a condition allowing the film's release if the title was changed. The bench declined to do so but said the filmmaker could file a separate application before the single judge on this point. Although details of the order are still awaited, the film remains barred from release under its current title.
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Business Standard
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
HC rules in favour of Karan Johar, bars release of film using his name
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday upheld a March 7, 2025 judgment that refused to lift the stay on the release of the film 'Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar'. The film's release had been halted since June 2024 after the court found that it likely infringed on the personality rights of filmmaker Karan Johar, reported Live Law. A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Makarand Karnik dismissed the appeal filed by the filmmakers against the earlier ruling by Justice Riyaz Chagla, who had passed the original interim stay on June 13, 2024. That interim stay was later confirmed and made absolute in a detailed ruling on March 7, 2025. A copy of the latest judgment is yet to be made available. In his previous order, Justice Chagla observed that a 'strong prima facie' case had been made by Johar to protect his personality rights, noting his celebrity status based on several blockbuster films he has directed and produced. The court also found that the use of his name in the title of the film appeared to be unauthorised and intended to unfairly profit from Johar's established brand. 'There is no manner of doubt that the plaintiff [Johar] has played a role in transforming the Bollywood film industry and launched careers of several successful actors. I have no doubt that prima facie the subject film is a direct reference to the plaintiff and makes unauthorised use of plaintiff's name,' Justice Chagla noted in his interim ruling. Also Read In his final judgment on March 7, Justice Chagla ruled that the filmmakers had prima facie violated Johar's personality rights, publicity rights, and right to privacy by using his name and associated attributes in the film title. 'The plaintiff [Karan Johar] has been able to establish that by using his brand name the defendants are attempting to ride upon the goodwill and reputation of the plaintiff to earn unjust profits for itself,' the court said while making the interim stay order permanent. The judge also noted that the characters in the film, named 'Karan' and 'Johar', are aspiring film directors in Bollywood — a clear reference to Johar's real-life profession. The use of the term 'director' alongside the name was viewed as a deliberate attempt to create an association with the real-life celebrity. The court found that this kind of portrayal could lead to commercial exploitation of Johar's name, which carries independent economic value. The judge emphasised that Johar alone has the right to commercially benefit from the use of his brand and identity. Background of the case Johar had filed a lawsuit claiming that he had no connection to the film and that the makers were unlawfully using his name in the title. The film is co-produced by IndiaPride Advisory Pvt Ltd and Sanjay Singh, and directed by Bablu Singh. In the lawsuit, Johar alleged that the film infringed upon his personality rights, right to publicity, and right to privacy. His legal team argued that the title Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar directly referred to his name and brand, without any authorisation. They added that Johar's name has gained a distinct identity and secondary meaning due to his widespread recognition in the entertainment industry. As a public figure, he has the legal right to prevent misuse of his identity under intellectual property laws. Johar's team also claimed that promotional material and trailers were causing irreparable harm to his reputation and goodwill, which he has built over decades in the film industry.
