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Delhi HC seeks response from the makers of film Doosra on plea by cricketer Sourav Ganguly alleging violation of his personality rights

The sports drama was released in theatres today after the Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to stay the release in a suit filed by Sourav Ganguly.

Updated on: Oct 23, 2026, 19:39:09 IST
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Sourav Ganguly has moved to court to stay the release of the upcoming film Doosra on October 23. He filed the case over a violation of his ‘personality rights’ but the Delhi HC refused to stay the release of the film. As per the latest update on news agency PTI, the Delhi High Court on Friday asked the makers of the film Doosra to respond to cricketer Sourav Ganguly's plea alleging violation of his personality rights in the movie.

What did the Court say?

Cricket Association of Bengal President Sourav Ganguly's plea had alleged unauthorised commercial use of his personality. (PTI Photo)(PTI09_18_2026_000153B) (PTI)
Cricket Association of Bengal President Sourav Ganguly's plea had alleged unauthorised commercial use of his personality. (PTI Photo)(PTI09_18_2026_000153B) (PTI)

A vacation bench of Justice Vinod Kumar said the issue of any interim relief against the movie can only be decided after the defendants file their replies and asked them to also arrange a screening of the movie, which was released in theatres earlier on Friday.

Justice Kumar, who held the court while the high court is shut for Dussehra break, issued summons to the film's producers, director and distributor in the lawsuit by Ganguly and Luv Films LLP, which is producing a biopic of the former cricket captain.

Deep Dive

Why did Sourav Ganguly challenge the film Doosra?

Ganguly alleged that the film used his identity and significant cricketing moments, including the 2002 NatWest Series victory, without his permission. He and Luv Films also claimed the film infringed the production house’s exclusive rights to make his biopic.

Did the Delhi High Court stop the release of Doosra?

No. The court refused to stay the theatrical release. It asked the filmmakers to respond to Ganguly’s plea and arrange a screening so the court could assess the personality-rights claim.

Is Doosra a biopic about Sourav Ganguly?

The filmmakers’ counsel said it is not a biopic, but a fictional story about Tara, a young woman inspired by sporting events involving Ganguly. Ganguly’s plea alleges that the film uses his identity and cricketing moments without authorisation.
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The senior counsel for the defendants asserted that "Doosra" was not a biopic but a fictional story of a middle-class Rajasthani girl who is inspired by certain sporting events involving the cricketer. "(The defendants to make) arrangements for playing the film so that it can be decided whether the personality rights of the plaintiff are violated or not," the court said, as it listed the case for hearing on October 29.

On Thursday, the high court refused to stop the theatre release of the film Doosra on Ganguly's plea. The senior counsel appearing for the filmmakers had assured that "Doosra" was not a biopic and that due permissions were taken from the appropriate right-holders to use certain clips involving the plaintiff.

Ganguly's counsel apprehended a violation of the cricketer's personality rights, asserting that no licence was taken from him for the production of Doosra.

What is Doosra about?

Set against the backdrop of India's famous 2002 NatWest Series victory over England, Doosra takes the image of Sourav Ganguly celebrating at Lord’s and gives it a different meaning. The film follows Tara, a young girl who struggles to fit into her conservative household and begins questioning the expectations placed on her. When she watches his defiant celebration on television, his refusal to conform inspires her to find the courage to challenge the rules governing her own life, even if it means facing the consequences.

Doosra is produced by Masha Sajdeh and Rohan Sajdeh, with Neeta Shah as co-producer. The story and screenplay are written by Agnello Oswin Dias, while Ram Sampat has composed the original score. The film stars Plabita Borthakur, Ankur Vikal, Samidha Guru, Tvisha Seema and Krishna Gokani.

The defendants' counsel, however, contended that a player cannot claim "personality rights" over clippings of the 2002 NatWest series.

(via inputs from PTI)

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Santanu Das

Santanu Das is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 5 years of experience, writing on films, pop culture and film festivals. He has a keen interest in writing about South Asian independent films and has covered several film festivals, including Sundance and CPH: Docx. He also brings a sharp perspective to the monthly column called The Fault in Our Stars, where he writes about a recent film/series and what stops the ‘good’ from becoming ‘great’. A gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University, Santanu completed his postgraduate studies in English from Jadavpur University. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes-certified film critic. When not watching films or speaking to celebrities, Santanu can be found reading a book. Some of his favourite films are Aparajito, Ponyo and The Double Life of Veronique. His favourite books include The Corrections, The God of Small Things and A Room of One's Own. Santanu continues to write passionately about films and celebrity culture. He brings a relatable, as well as critically informed, lens to entertainment and culture for a wide audience. Find him on LinkedIn: santanudasfilm Instagram: @santupecha

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