A petition against Anushka Sharma’s ‘Phillauri’ costs the petitioners fine worth Rs 5 lakh

Last Saturday, the makers of a Gujarati flick ‘Mangal Fera’, Gayatri Cine Productions, filed a petition against Anushka Sharma’s ‘Phillauri’, claiming that the film’s story was a blatant copy of theirs.

They as well pleaded to the court to issue a notice on ‘Phillauri’ producers Anushka Sharma, her brother Karnesh Sharma along with their production house Clean Slate Films, and also the film’s writer Anvita Dutt Guptan.

Advocate Nagesh Mishra, who is providing legal support to Gayatri Cine Productions in this matter, wanted a stay order on the film’s release. However, their demand was dismissed by Bombay High Court. (Also Read: Super! Satellite and music rights of Anushka Sharma’s ‘Phillauri’ sold for Rs 12 crore)

“Justice G S Patel said that we cannot move the court when the film is so close to releasing. He did not just dismiss the case but also imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh for wasting time of the court,” Mishra told India Today.

‘Mangal Fera’ apparently revolves around a woman who is considered a ‘Manglik’ (a person with faulty position of Mars as per astrology) and is married off to a tree. However, it is not known to people that a ghost resides in the tree, and develops liking towards the woman.

For those who followed the trailer of ‘Phillauri’, the story might appear similar to a great extent. Makers of the regional films decided to send out a legal notice to Clean Slate Films and were answered back that ‘Phillauri’ dealt with the age-old practice of getting Manglik women married off to trees. Not convinced with the answer, they then moved to the court.

Mishra, however, says his clients are eager to challenge the court’s decision.

‘Phillauri’, also starring Diljit Dosanjh, Suraj Sharma and Mehreen Pirzada, releases tomorrow March 24, 2017.

Ranjini Maitra

Journalist. Writer. Reader. Enthu cutlet. Mood-swing machine. Day dreamer. Sandwiched between ‘live life fully’ and ‘lose some weight’. Mantra of life: Love and love more.