Renowned Bollywood director and producer Karan Johar has taken legal action against the makers of the Hindi film "Shaadi ke Director Karan aur Johar," seeking to prevent them from using his name in the title. The plea, filed urgently before Justice RI Chagla's bench at the Bombay High Court, requests an immediate stay on the film's scheduled release on June 14, 2024.
Johar's petition argues for a permanent injunction and restraining order against the filmmakers, asserting that the unauthorized use of his name in the film's title infringes upon his personal rights, publicity rights, and privacy. He emphasized that he has no association with the film or its creators, who are allegedly exploiting his 'brand name' to capitalize on his goodwill and reputation.
The suit highlights that promotional materials including trailers and posters featuring the title "Shaadi ke Director Karan aur Johar" have already been widely distributed across public spaces and social media platforms. Johar claims that these materials are causing irreparable harm to his reputation and goodwill, which he has meticulously built over years of dedication and investment.
"The release of the film under a title containing my brand name 'Karan Johar,' whether in whole or part, will result in significant and irreversible damage to the goodwill and reputation that I have painstakingly built through substantial investments of time, effort, and resources," the petition stated.
The Bombay High Court has agreed to hear Johar's plea on Thursday, underscoring the urgency and gravity of the matter as it unfolds amidst heightened public and media interest.