Former Indian Cricket Team captain Sourav Ganguly's shirtless celebration after India's 2002 NatWest Series Final win over England plays a key role in a legal dispute regarding the long-delayed Doosra: India's Other Freedom Struggle. Director Abhinay Deo's film references the moment and follows a youngster, who navigates a patriarchal system and takes inspiration from Ganguly's cricketing career. However, Ganguly has filed a lawsuit, raising reservations about how the film depicts not only his personal life but also his career in cricket. The cricketer has moved the court, arguing that the film's makers used his name, iconic cricketing moments and personality to not just promote the film but also profit from it without his authorisation.
And now, the Delhi High Court (HC) has found that Doosra violates Ganguly's personality and publicity rights. As a result, the legal institution has asked its makers to include disclaimers at the start and end of the film in both Hindi and English and deposit 2 crore as bank guarantee for the cricketer. The disclaimers should inform viewers that Ganguly did not allow the depiction or use of his own persona in Doosra, and that it has no official authorisation or association to violate the cricketer's publicity rights.
Also part of the case is Luv Films LLP, the studio that holds the adaptation rights to a Sarauv Ganguly biopic. Notably, the upcoming Rajkummar Rao starrer Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story is produced by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg under the banner of Luv Films. Producer Luv Ranjan's banner noted that the move by Doosra makers has the potential to have an effect on its project, since the company holds the adaptation rights.
The film stars Plabita Borthakur in the lead role alongside supporting cast members Ankur Vikal, Samidha Guru, Twisha Joshi, and Krishna Gokani.
