Vashu Bhagnani and Tips Films, who had collaborated on many films for over 20 years, currently find themselves in the middle of a feud and legal battle over music rights of their 1999 collaboration Biwi No. 1, directed by David Dhawan. In a recent press conference, Vashu Bhagnani candidly spoke about the feud, also opening up on lack of courtesy from both David Dhawan and Varun Dhawan after the commercial failure of Coolie No 1.
Expressing his displeasure over Varun Dhawan and David Dhawan’s indifference over the commercial losses for Coolie No 1, Vashu said, “We suffered a loss of INR 27 crore for Coolie No. 1 in 2020. He never even bothered to ask how I was doing. I am broken because after doing so much, they are making me out to be the thief, the fool. Varun Dhawan is saying these things. David Ji is saying these things. Ramesh Ji too. There is no need for this."
It was in 2025 that the leaked videos from the sets of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai took social media by storm, when a few clips of Varun Dhawan grooving alongside Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde to a recreated version of ‘Chunnari Chunnari, went viral, kickstarting the ongoing dispute over intellectual property rights between Puja Entertainment and Tips Music.
In the press conference, Vashu Bhagnani also revealed that while he sold the audio rights of Biwi No 1 to Tips at the time of release, the underlying film-linked intellectual property and recreation permissions still required his consent, and that he was hurt that neither David Dhawan nor Ramesh Taurani informed him about planning to use the music of Biwi No 1. Addressing the subject of the disputed music rights, Vashu noted, “He shouldn't have taken these songs. At least he should have come to me and told me. How can you shoot the same songs for another producer? There has to be ethics in the industry.”
The producer also claimed this was the reason for cancelling of the trailer launch event for the film on Thursday, adding, “They were aware about the contempt of court. But they made an excuse by calling it a glitch. Now they have gone and filed in Patna court.”
On May 13, Vashu Bhagnani’s Puja Entertainment had secured interim protection from the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division)-I, Katihar, in proceedings initiated against Tips Music Limited and other parties concerning the unauthorised exploitation and commercial misuse of intellectual property rights. Following the judgment, Tips Music had denied the allegations levelled against it, calling Puja Entertainment’s claims “malicious” and “misconceived.”
While the trailer of the film was finally released on Saturday, it is not clear whether this does not mark any breach of contract.
Meanwhile, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai starring Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde in the leading roles, is slated to release in theatres on June 5.