FIR filed against Kangana Ranaut, siblings for copyright infringement
Actress Kangana Ranaut has been caught in yet another legal battle as an author has accused her of copyright violation. Ashish Kaul, who is the former Group Executive Vice President of Zee Network, claimed that Ranaut announced the movie Manikarnika Returns: The Legend of Didda without his knowledge. He claims to have exclusive copyrights to the life story of Didda. Here are more details.
Kaul, who wrote Didda: The Warrior Queen of Kashmir, claimed that he had sent an e-mail containing an excerpt about Didda to Ranaut. Later, she used it to announce a movie without his permission. "The description of Didda as identified by Kangana Ranaut to promote her film is identical to what is set out in my book," Kaul told Indian Express.
He had filed a private complaint in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bandra. The judge ruled in his favor. "Based on a court order we have lodged an FIR under Sections 406, 415, 418, 120(b) and 34 read with Sections 51, 63, and 63 A of Copyright Act against the four accused," said Gajanan Kabdule, senior police inspector of Khar Police station.
The FIR mentions Ranaut's siblings, Rangoli Chandel and Akshat Ranaut, and producer Kamal Kumar Jain. When asked about the development, Ranaut's lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee said, "I shall obtain a copy of the entire proceedings from the court and then I shall give a detailed statement."
Didda was the Princess of Lohar (Poonch), now in Jammu and Kashmir, and the Queen of Kashmir from 980-1003 CE. She is believed to have a notable influence on state affairs. Some coins appear to have her name on them. Under her rule, Mahmud of Ghazni could not invade Kashmir. She is known for unifying Kashmir and taking the kingdom to glorious heights.
Earlier, Ranaut had announced that she will essay Didda's role in Manikarnika Returns: The Legend of Didda. "Our Bharatvarsha has been a witness to the story of many brave hearts like Rani of Jhansi. Another such untold heroic story is that of a queen of Kashmir, who defeated Mahmud of Ghazni not once, but twice, (sic)" she had tweeted in January.
