Bombay High Court Restrains Filmmaker from Defaming Aditya Dhar in Script Dispute

The Bombay High Court has issued an interim order restraining filmmaker Santosh Kumar from making defamatory remarks against director Aditya Dhar in connection with a dispute over the script of the film Dhurandhar. The order was passed by Justice Arif Doctor while hearing a defamation suit filed by Dhar, who alleged that Kumar had been publicly accusing him of copying a script. The court observed that a prima facie case had been made out and granted temporary relief, directing Kumar not to publish or repeat any statements that could harm Dhar’s reputation until further orders.

According to Dhar’s plea, Kumar had made allegations during a press conference following the release of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, claiming that the film’s storyline was based on a script he had previously written and registered. Dhar argued that these claims were unsubstantiated and damaging to his professional standing. The court issued the directive as an ex-parte interim measure and has sought Kumar’s response to the allegations. The matter is scheduled for further hearing later this month.

During proceedings, Dhar’s counsel contended that while Kumar is entitled to pursue legal remedies if he believes his work has been infringed, making public accusations without evidence could cause irreparable harm. The court appeared to agree, emphasising the need to address such disputes through proper legal channels. The case stems from Kumar’s claim that Dhurandhar was derived from his script titled D Saheb, which he says was registered earlier. Dhar has denied the allegations.

The dispute highlights growing concerns over intellectual property conflicts in the film industry, with the final outcome now pending further judicial examination.