The Delhi High Court has asked former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly to identify specific scenes in the recently released film Doosra that allegedly violate his personality rights. The court issued the direction while hearing Ganguly’s lawsuit against the makers of the film.
According to PTI, Justice Tejas Karia directed the defendants to provide a pen drive containing the film. The matter has been scheduled for its next hearing on November 2.
Doosra follows the fictional story of a middle-class girl from Rajasthan whose life is influenced by significant moments in Indian cricket, particularly those associated with Ganguly.
During the hearing, Ganguly’s legal team argued that the film uses his identity and achievements without obtaining his consent. His counsel also sought a temporary injunction against the makers, despite the film having already arrived in theatres last week. The court was informed that the film had not yet been released on streaming platforms.
Raising concerns over the portrayal of Ganguly, his counsel stated, “It is all about Sourav Ganguly’s life. His image has been badly exploited without consent. After intermission, it is all about the 2002 NatWest match.”
However, the filmmakers opposed these allegations, maintaining that Ganguly’s career had only served as an inspiration for the fictional narrative. Their legal representative also argued that the necessary permissions had been obtained from the copyright holders for the cricket footage featured in the film.
The legal dispute began before the film’s theatrical release. On October 22, the High Court declined to halt its release. The following day, the court directed the filmmakers to respond to Ganguly’s allegations and arrange a screening of the film.
The upcoming hearing will further examine Ganguly’s objections and the filmmakers’ defence regarding the use of his identity and cricketing achievements.
Also Read: Doosra Movie Review: An Experimental Affair Buoyed By Performances