New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has granted an interim injunction in favour of renowned filmmaker Mukesh Bhatt, barring T-Series and any associated parties from using the titles "Tu Hi Aashiqui" or "Tu Hi Aashiqui Hai," or any other title incorporating the mark "Aashiqui" for their upcoming film. This decision comes amid disputes over intellectual property rights related to the use of the "Aashiqui" brand.
Justice Sanjeev Narula in an order passed on Monday issued the interim injunction, highlighting that the "Aashiqui" title is not merely a one-off instance but is part of a well-established film series, with notable success from its 1990 and 2013 instalments.
Victory for Mahesh Bhatt
Mukesh Bhatt's company, Vishesh Films Private Limited, has recently approached Delhi High Court through a legal suit against T-Series' Super Cassettes Industries Limited after both companies planned to develop a third installment of the "Aashiqui" series. The conflict arose when T-Series announced a film with titles similar to "Tu Hi Aashiqui" or "Tu Hi Aashiqui Hai," which Bhatt's team claimed could be misleading. Bhatt and T-Series previously collaborated on the first two "Aashiqui" films with mutual approval and joint credits.
No new installments
Super Cassettes Industries Limited (T-Series) acknowledges joint ownership of the "Aashiqui" franchise but denies any plans to produce a new installment or derivative works based on "Aashiqui" and "Aashiqui 2." T-Series argued that their proposed titles, "Tu Hi Aashiqui" and "Tu Hi Aashiqui Hai," are distinct from the plaintiff's trademark and do not constitute a sequel. They further stated that their film will be entirely separate from the "Aashiqui" franchise, with no connections to the previous films.
Vishesh Films rights
Vishesh Films Private Limited has claimed that T-Series is infringing on their proprietary rights to the "Aashiqui" franchise, despite their joint ownership under previous agreements. The two companies collaborated on the creation of the acclaimed films "Aashiqui" (1990) and "Aashiqui 2" (2013), which have become iconic in Indian romantic cinema. Vishesh Films argues that T-Series' new project, with a similar title, violates the established rights and branding associated with the franchise. (with Agency inputs)
