Kangana Ranaut’s Queen 2 Faces Legal Challenge as Phantom Studios Sues JioStar for Rs 250 Crore
Kangana Ranaut’s much-anticipated film, Queen 2, has found itself embroiled in a legal battle shortly after wrapping up production. Phantom Studios has filed a lawsuit against JioStar in the Bombay High Court, claiming that the sequel is an unauthorized continuation of the 2014 hit Queen. The production house is seeking a staggering Rs 250 crore in damages, alleging infringement of intellectual property rights associated with the original film.
Legal Dispute Over Intellectual Property Rights
Phantom Studios asserts that it holds 50 percent of the intellectual property rights to Queen, which includes the rights to create sequels or derivative works. According to a report by Mid-Day, the studio claims it never granted permission for the development of Queen 2, leading them to challenge the project legally. A source close to the situation stated, “Their non action is what has led to Phantom Studios suing them for infringement. There was even a public notice put out and multiple communications sent to Vikas and JioStar as well, informing them before this step was taken.”
The lawsuit contends that Queen 2 was developed without the consent of one of the original rights holders, raising significant concerns about the legality of the sequel. Phantom Studios has made it clear that they believe their rights have been violated, prompting them to take this legal route.
Attempts at Resolution Before Legal Action
Before resorting to court, Phantom Studios reportedly made several attempts to resolve the issue amicably. Insiders suggest that discussions and settlement efforts between the two parties did not yield any agreement. Another source indicated that the studio decided to initiate legal proceedings only after learning that filming for Queen 2 had been completed.
The legal action follows a public notice issued by Phantom Studios in April, where the company stated that it had not authorized any adaptations, sequels, or derivative works based on Queen. This notice appears to have been a precursor to the lawsuit, signaling Phantom’s intent to protect its intellectual property rights.
Background on Queen and Phantom Studios
Released in 2014, Queen became one of the most celebrated Hindi films of its time. Directed by Vikas Bahl, the film received widespread acclaim and won two National Film Awards, including Best Actress for Kangana Ranaut. The original film was produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Phantom Films, a banner founded by Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Madhu Mantena, and Vikas Bahl. Although Phantom Films was dissolved in 2018, it was revived as Phantom Studios in 2021.
Phantom Studios maintains that it still owns a 50 percent stake in the intellectual property of Queen, which grants it the legal authority to approve or reject any sequels based on the original film. As of now, neither JioStar nor the makers of Queen 2 have publicly responded to the reported lawsuit.
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