Kangana Ranaut's much-awaited Queen 2 has reportedly landed in legal trouble even before its release. According to reports, Phantom Studios has filed a ₹250 crore lawsuit against JioStar, alleging that the sequel to the 2014 hit Queen has been developed without its consent and violates its intellectual property rights.
As per the report, Phantom Studios has moved the Bombay High Court, claiming that it owns a 50% stake in the intellectual property rights of Queen. The production house has argued that these rights include the authority to approve or develop sequels, remakes and other derivative projects based on the original film.
The report further states that Phantom Studios had issued a public notice in April, making it clear that it had not granted permission for any sequel or adaptation of Queen. Despite this, the company alleges that the makers went ahead with Queen 2, prompting it to seek legal action against JioStar.
According to the lawsuit, Phantom Studios is seeking ₹250 crore in damages, claiming that the film amounts to an unauthorised use of the Queen franchise. Reports also suggest that several rounds of discussions and attempts to resolve the matter outside court did not result in a settlement, eventually leading to the legal battle.
Queen, released in 2014, became one of Kangana Ranaut's most celebrated films and earned widespread critical acclaim. Directed by Vikas Bahl, the film followed the journey of a young woman who embarks on a solo honeymoon after her fiancé calls off their wedding. The film also won Kangana the National Award for Best Actress.
Interestingly, reports claim that Queen 2 has already completed filming. However, the ongoing legal dispute could have an impact on the project's future if the matter remains unresolved. As of now, neither JioStar nor the makers of the film have issued an official statement responding to the allegations.
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