Filmmaker Indra Kumar and producer Ashok Thakeria find themselves caught up in an alleged fraud case worth Rs 1.50 crore, linked to the rights of their 2007 release ‘Dhamaal’. The controversy came to light recently when an FIR was reportedly lodged against the two on August 17. This followed a complaint from Vikas Baldevraj Sahni, who owns the Mumbai-based film distribution firm Grand Master.
Maruti International ‘s official statement on the matter
According to a Mid-day report, following the emergence of these reports, Ashok’s Maruti International released a statement addressing the rights issue surrounding the 2007 film ‘Dhamaal’. The statement read, “We are currently in discussions with the concerned party and the matter regarding the rights will be resolved mutually after further discussions.”
The alleged 2019 distribution agreement
This follows an NDTV report alleging that Vikas Baldevraj Sahni’s company entered into a contract with Thakeria’s Maruti International. The agreement, reportedly dated October 15, 2019, granted worldwide distribution, digital and copyright rights to the 2007 comedy ‘Dhamaal’, which starred Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Jaaved Jaaferi and Riteish Deshmukh, for a sum said to be Rs 1.50 crore.
Sahni alleges prior rights deal with Shemaroo
According to his complaint, Sahni claims he was first told that the film’s rights hadn’t been sold to anyone else previously. However, he later found out that the lifetime OTT and digital rights had reportedly already gone to Shemaroo Entertainment back in 2015, four years before his own company, Grand Master, signed its agreement. Sahni also alleged that in January 2020, a Maruti International representative disclosed the existing deal with Shemaroo, which allegedly granted the company lifetime rights to the film. He further claimed that a supplementary agreement between Maruti International and Shemaroo was signed later, in October 2020.
Grand Master’s copyright certificate claim
Meanwhile, Grand Master, Sahni’s company, had reportedly filed for cinematograph copyright back in March 2020. Per the complaint, the Copyright Office later granted the company a copyright certificate — CF-5230/2023 — issued on April 28, 2023.
About ‘Dhamaal’ and its legacy
Released in September 2007, ‘Dhamaal’ went on to become a cult favourite. The franchise recently saw its fourth outing with ‘Dhamaal 4’, led by Ajay Devgn.
