Doosra Film Infringes Sourav Ganguly's Rights: Delhi HC Orders Rs 2 Crore Guarantee
Delhi High Court rules Doosra infringes Sourav Ganguly's personality rights, ordering a Rs 2 crore bank guarantee and a mandatory disclaimer.
The Delhi High Court has delivered a significant blow to the makers of the film Doosra, ruling that the movie infringes upon the personality and publicity rights of former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly. In a strict directive, the court has ordered the producers to furnish a Rs 2 crore unconditional bank guarantee and display a prominent disclaimer to clarify that the cricket legend did not consent to the film.
The Court's Verdict on Persona and Narrative
Justice Tejas Karia observed that the persona of Sourav Ganguly and the milestones of his cricketing journey are so deeply intertwined with the film's narrative that it is currently impractical to remove those specific portions. However, this does not excuse the unauthorized use of his identity.
To protect Ganguly's rights, the court has mandated that Ramesh Deo Productions Private Limited must insert a disclaimer in both English and Hindi. This notice must appear at both the start and the end of the movie, explicitly stating that:
- Sourav Ganguly did not give his consent for the use of his persona in the film.
- The movie is not intended to infringe upon his personality or publicity rights.
The filmmakers have been given a tight window of just two days to comply with these instructions.
Financial Safeguards and Strict Warnings
Beyond the disclaimer, the court has imposed a heavy financial safeguard. The producers are required to submit an unconditional bank guarantee of Rs 2 crore with the Registrar of the High Court within two weeks. Justice Karia warned that any failure to meet these conditions would result in the defendants being barred from commercially exploiting the film or any aspect of it.
The Core of the Dispute: Iconic Moments
The legal battle began when Sourav Ganguly and Luv Films LLP filed a lawsuit against the makers of Doosra. Luv Films holds the exclusive contractual rights to create an authorized biographical film about Ganguly's life, titled Dada – The Sourav Ganguly Story, which is expected to hit screens on May 14, 2027.
The plaintiffs alleged that Doosra sought to profit from Ganguly's reputation by recreating recognizable and iconic events from his career without permission. The primary points of contention included:
- References to Ganguly's leadership during the historic 2002 NatWest Series final.
- The depiction of his legendary shirtless celebration on the Lord’s balcony following India's victory.
Concerns Over Misleading Promotion
The controversy escalated following the launch of the trailer and promotional campaign for Doosra on October 12. Ganguly and Luv Films argued that the promotional materials heavily leveraged his identity and likeness to gain commercial advantage. They further contended that such usage could mislead the public into believing that the former captain had endorsed or was associated with the film.
Representing Ganguly and Luv Films were advocates Gitika Aggarwal, Jaya Goyal, Arjun Aggarwal, Manpreet Kaur, and Mehak, with the lawsuit instituted through Neo Juris Advocates & Solicitors.