Cinema VinesThe Delhi High Court has ruled that the film Doosra infringed on former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly’s personality and publicity rights. In a decision issued on Thursday, the court ordered the makers, Ramesh Deo Productions Private Limited, to pay a fine of ₹2 crore and to display explicit disclaimer notices in both Hindi and English at the beginning and end of the movie.
The judgment follows a lawsuit filed by Ganguly together with Luv Films, who accused the producers of using the cricketer’s identity and life events without permission. The court also prohibited the film’s release on OTT platforms or any other medium, citing the difficulty of excising the contested material from the final cut.
In its observations, the court noted that several elements of Ganguly’s personality and incidents from his life are tightly woven into the film’s narrative. Because of this, the court could not order a removal of the relevant scenes and instead directed the inclusion of prominent disclaimers. The notices must state that Ganguly did not grant consent for the commercial use or depiction of his persona, and that the project has no official association or authorization from him.
Ganguly’s case highlights the broader legal framework surrounding the use of public figures’ identities in commercial projects. Personality rights protect individuals from unauthorized exploitation of their name, image, and likeness. The court’s ruling underscores the importance of securing clear permissions before depicting real-life personalities in films.
Meanwhile, a sanctioned biopic titled Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story is in production. Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and produced by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg, the film is slated for release on 14 May 2026. The new biopic is expected to be the first official portrayal of the former captain’s life and career.
