Delhi High Court Says Doosra Infringes Sourav Ganguly’s Personality Rights, but Won’t Stop the Film: What the Order Means

A film built around a real-life sporting moment has now become a test case for personality rights. On Friday, November 6, 2026, the Delhi High Court held that the film Doosra prima facie violated the personality rights of former India captain Sourav Ganguly. In the same order, the court declined to stop the film’s theatrical run, and instead told the makers to add disclaimers and provide a ₹2 crore guarantee.

What the Court Decided

Justice Tejas Karia passed the interim order in a lawsuit filed by Ganguly and Luv Films LLP, the company producing a biopic of the former cricketer. The court observed that elements of Ganguly’s persona and real-life events are so closely woven into the film’s story that it would be practically unfeasible to remove the allegedly infringing portions. The film is Doosra: India’s Other Freedom Struggle, produced by Ramesh Deo Productions.

The court did not, however, order the film to be withdrawn. It refused to interfere with its screening in theatres, where it has been running since its release on October 23.

What the Makers Have Been Told to Do

• Display disclaimers. The makers must show clear disclaimers in both Hindi and English at the beginning and end of the film, stating that Ganguly never consented to the commercial use or depiction of his persona and that the project is not officially associated with him.
• Furnish ₹2 crore. Reports differ slightly on the wording. Some say the makers must deposit ₹2 crore, while others, including PTI-based coverage, say a bank guarantee of ₹2 crore. In either case, it’s security for the alleged infringement while the case continues.
• No further release platforms (reported). One report says the film has been barred from release on OTT platforms or elsewhere. Other outlets don’t mention this, so it should be treated as unconfirmed.

How We Got Here

The case has moved quickly over the past few weeks. On October 22, the court refused to halt the theatrical release of the film on Ganguly’s plea. The next day, October 23, the film’s release date, it asked the makers to respond to the plea and arrange a screening of the film. It also asked Ganguly’s side to specify exactly which content was infringing. Friday’s order follows that process.

Earlier trailer coverage described Doosra as a sports drama inspired by Ganguly’s celebration after India’s 2002 NatWest Series final win at Lord’s, a moment closely tied to his public image.

Why Luv Films Is Involved

Luv Films LLP is the producer of Ganguly’s own biopic, Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story, which is scheduled to release on May 14, 2027. That’s why the company joined him in the suit: an unauthorized film on a similar subject, released first, could affect an authorized one. The case is therefore both about Ganguly’s personal rights and about commercial competition between two projects.

An Interim Order, Not a Final Verdict

The most important caveat is that this is an interim order. The court’s findings are preliminary, and the final decision on rights and liabilities will come after the trial. The makers’ side has not responded publicly in the coverage I found, so their arguments are not yet part of the public record.

The Bigger Picture

Personality rights, which protect a public figure’s name, image and persona from unauthorized commercial use, have come up repeatedly in recent months. We’ve covered actors such as Urvashi Rautela and Samantha Ruth Prabhu challenging AI misuse of their likenesses. This case is different in technology but similar in principle: it asks where creative freedom to tell a real story ends and a person’s control over their own identity begins.

The court’s middle path, allowing the film to continue but requiring disclaimers and financial security, shows how courts may balance both interests while a case is pending.

What to Watch Next

Watch for the next hearing date, any response from the makers, and whether the disclaimer and guarantee are put in place. The final ruling could set a useful precedent for films that draw heavily on a real person’s life without their consent.

 

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