Sushant Singh Rajput‘s father moved the Delhi High Court seeking a ban on the release of any film based on the late actor’s life, Live Law reported.
Based on his plea, a single-judge bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri issued notice on Tuesday to restrain the defendants from using or advertising or making references, in any manner, to Rajput’s name, caricature, lifestyle, likeness in their upcoming ventures.
The petition was filed based upon reports about films titled Nyay: The Justice, Suicide, Murder: A Star Was Lost, and Shashank. In February, Mumbai-based businessman and social worker Manish Jamadar Mishra filed a petition seeking to restrain the release, exhibiting, displaying and broadcasting of Nyay: The Justice.
Rajput’s father alleged breach of right to privacy and “passing off” in context to the recent news articles published regarding films and other ventures depicting the actor’s personal life, name, images, caricature, lifestyle, likeness in form of biopic or story as it was a direct infringement of his “personality rights”. The petition also argued that “any such publication, production, or depiction of the private life of the late actor is a blatant and wilful breach of the fundamental right to privacy which includes right to publicity”. The plea stated that the same cannot be commenced without his prior approval as he was Rajput’s legal heir.
Claiming that close confidants of the accused in Rajput’s abetment of suicide have launched the film in an “orchestrated manner”, Rajput’s father argued that the film will interfere in the ongoing investigation.
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Rajput died by suicide on June 14, 2020, in Mumbai, sparking several controversies, and a trial by media speculating the cause of his death, mental health issues and nepotism in the Hindi film industry. Rajput’s death initiated a massive ongoing drug probe, which is being investigated by the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Central Bureau of Investigation. There are cases against Rajput’s sister Priyanka Singh, his girlfriend actor Rhea Chakraborty, and her brother Showik Chakraborty pertaining to the actor’s suicide.