Eros International Media Ltd has filed a lawsuit in Bombay High Court against Aanand L Rai and his production company, Colour Yellow Media Entertainment LLP. The studio is alleging infringement of intellectual property rights concerning the film Raanjhanaa. Eros claims that Rai's film, Tere Ishk Mein, released on November 28, 2025, was marketed as a "spiritual sequel" to Raanjhanaa without obtaining permission. Eros is seeking ₹84 crore in damages from Rai. The suit also names Super Cassettes Industries (T-Series), writer Himanshu Sharma, and Netflix Entertainment Services India LLP as defendants.
Eros International asserts that they are the "exclusive owner of all intellectual property rights" related to Raanjhanaa, encompassing copyright, trademarks, characters, dialogues, and rights to sequels and remakes. The lawsuit states that the defendants have misused these rights to promote Tere Ishk Mein. Specifically, the teaser for Tere Ishk Mein allegedly used phrases like "From the world of Raanjhanaa" and hashtags such as "#WorldOfRaanjhanaaa".
Eros claims that Tere Ishk Mein incorporates footage and background score from Raanjhanaa without authorization. They further argue that the character portrayed by Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub in both films exhibits striking similarities, which constitutes a "clear violation" of their exclusive rights. Additionally, Eros contends that Dhanush's character in Tere Ishk Mein mirrors his role as Kundan Shankar in Raanjhanaa, sharing similar emotional arcs, dialogues, and thematic elements.
Eros issued a cease-and-desist notice on July 25, 2025, followed by reminders in September. While some references were briefly removed from promotional materials, Eros alleges that the released film still contained strong similarities. According to the complaint, the defendants proceeded to release and exploit the film on November 28, 2025, despite receiving legal notices and continuing the allegedly wrongful acts. Eros maintains that after viewing the released film, they discovered "extensive copyright and trademark infringement," with the film being repeatedly presented as a "spiritual sequel".
In response to earlier criticism regarding the AI-altered ending of Raanjhanaa re-release, Eros stated that, as the sole financier, producer, and rights holder, they possess control over all intellectual property, moral rights, and derivative rights under Indian Copyright Law. They also refuted claims of financial investment or creative control by Aanand L Rai in the original Raanjhanaa production.
The Raanjhanaa controversy highlights the conflict within Indian IP law, particularly concerning the definition of authorship in films and the director's creative input. Under the Indian Copyright Act, the producer is legally considered the author, granting them extensive economic rights. This framework prioritizes commercial interests, potentially limiting a director's ability to assert moral rights over the film.
As of the time of reporting, requests for comment from Rai and Eros have not been answered. The case remains a developing situation in the Bombay High Court.
