Ajay Devgn's plea against YRF rejected

The Competition Commission has rejected the complaint from actor Ajay Devgn against Yash Raj Films for alleged abuse of dominant position in the Hindi film industry, saying that the plea does not have any merit.

Actor-producer Devgn's complaint came ahead of the release this month of films by both the parties involved.

"The Commission has rejected the complaint of Ajay Devgn against Yash Raj Films as there was no merit in it. The complaint does not fall under any area that violates Competition rules," said a senior official of the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

The fair trade regulator has not found any violation of Section 3 of the Competition Act that relates to anti-competitive agreements. According to the official, the order on the plea was passed last evening.

Sonakshi-Ajay in a still from Son of Sardaar

Ajay Devgn Films Pvt Ltd had moved the CCI claiming that YRF was using its dominant position to ask exhibitors to dedicate more screens to its upcoming release, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, than for his film Son of Sardaar on November 13.

The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the CCI to "expeditiously" decide on Ajay Devgn Films' complaint that its Son of Sardaar was not getting enough single-screen theatres as Yash Raj Films has used its dominant position for better exhibition of Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

Yash Raj Films, last week, had denied monopolisation of exhibitors.

"For a company like ours, which has maintained the highest standards of work ethics and fair play, this has really come as a shock. We would like to clarify at the outset that we still haven't received any notice from the Commission and will suitably represent our stance if and when called upon to do so...

"A Yash Chopra/Shah Rukh Khan movie, coming after a gap of 8 long years, did not need any coercion for contractual screening," YRF had said in a statement.

WHAT HAPPENED

Ajay Devgn sends legal notice to YRF
In a development that has shocked many in Bollywood, actor-producer Ajay Devgn has served a legal notice to Yash Raj Films for unfairly using their dominant position in the industry and putting pressure on the exhibitors to give prominence to their upcoming film, Jab Tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ), over Devgn’s Son of Sardaar (SOS). Both the films are set to release on Diwali, i.e. on November 13. FULL STORY

Yash Raj Films issues strong rejoinder to Ajay Devgn’s notice
Shocking is how Bollywood production house Yash Raj Films has described actor-producer Ajay Devgn’s allegation that they indulged in “malpractice” to put pressure on the exhibitors, especially single screen theatre owners, to screen YRF’s SRK-starrer Jab Tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ) and not Devgn’s Son of Sardar (SOS) that releases the same day. YRF'S TAKE

CCI to solve dispute between Yash Raj, Devgn's firms
The Delhi High Court today asked the CCI to "expeditiously" decide the complaint of Ajay Devgn Films Private Limited that its Diwali release Son of Sardaar was not getting enough single-screen theatres as Yash Raj Films has "used its dominant" position for better exhibition of its Shah Rukh Khan's starrer Jab Tak Hai Jaan. MORE

Shah Rukh Khan reacts to Yash Raj-Ajay Devgn tussle
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Friday said he was thankful he was not directly involved in legal tussle between producers of Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Son of Sardaar. He was referring to actor-producer Ajay Devgn sending a legal notice to Yash Raj Films for allegedly asking exhibitors to give prominence to Jab Tak Hain Jaan over Son Of Sardaar. SRK SPEAK

YRF versus Ajay Devgn Films: Diwali BO competition heats up
The moods of the people behind the films Jab Tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ) and Son of Sardaar (SOS), which are both releasing on Diwali, are getting more explosive by the minute. In the complaint they filed against Yash Raj Films (YRF) in the Competition Commission of India, Ajay Devgn Films (ADF), accused them of impeding the distribution of their co-production, Son of Sardaar. YRF V/S ADF

After YRF’s rejoinder, Ajay Devgn hits back with a statement
A day after Yash Raj Films (YRF) issued a statement against Ajay Devgn Films (ADF) for filing a complaint against them with Competition Commission of India, ADF’s lawyers have hit back with a strongly worded statement that reads: A producer/distributor/exhibitor cannot be allowed to enter into a tie-in arrangement which adversely affects competition. AND THE WAR GOES ON...

TAKE POLL

Will Kajol attend Jab Tak Hai Jaan's grand premiere?
All of Yash Chopra’s leading ladies are expected to attend the film’s premiere on the night of November 12, and Kajol, who starred in the iconic Yash Chopra-directed Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, is also known to be close to the Chopra family. But her husband Ajay Devgn’s film Son of Sardar releases the same day as Jab Tak Hai Jaan. MORE

Sad about not shooting in Alps: Katrina Kaif
Actress Katrina Kaif, who was looking forward to romancing her Jab Tak Hai Jaan co-star Shah Rukh Khan in a song sequence to be shot in Switzerland for their upcoming film, is disheartened after filmmaker Yash Chopra’s demise. KAT SPEAKS

Shah Rukh Khan caught between Anushka-Katrina
A press interaction with Shah Rukh Khan is always fun. When he was accompanied by his leading ladies from Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, was no different. The event held at Yash Raj Studios was the first conference since director Yash Chopra’s death. SRK SPEAKS

Shah Rukh Khan's JTHJ to clash with Son of Sardaar this Diwali
Ever since filmmaker Yash Chopra passed away (on October 21), there have been talks of whether Ajay Devgn should postpone his co-production, Son Of Sardaar (SOS). But as it stands, both films will now release on the Diwali weekend, on November 13. FULL STORY

We made the corrections that were requested: Ajay Devgn
In a country like India, it has practically become a mandatory ritual for films based on a particular community or minority to get the approval of the representatives of the group, to make sure it is in harmony with their sentiments. The makers of the soon-to-release Son Of Sardar (SOS) did the same. DEVGN SPEAKS

Kajol, Ajay to seek Goddess Durga's blessing for SOS
Actress Kajol and her actor-producer husband Ajay Devgn will seek blessings of Goddess Durga on the occasion of Ashtami, for his forthcoming release Son of Sardaar(SOS). MORE

Dabangg 2 trailer to release with Son Of Sardaar
After making a special appearance (which is touted to be more an item song) in Son Of Sardaar (SOS), Salman Khan has now also decided to launch the trailer of Dabangg 2 with the Ajay Devgn-Sanjay Dutt starrer. READ

FIRST LOOK: Salman Khan in Son of Sardaar item song
Salman Khan has shot an item number for his friend Ajay Devgn's upcoming flick Son Of Sardaar. Clad in a brown leather jacket over a Being Human tee, the star looks dapper in a glimpse from the song. PIC

(With additional inputs)