Dhamaal makers face Rs 1.50 crore fraud FIR over film rights

Veteran filmmaker Indra Kumar and producer Ashok Thakeria are facing an alleged Rs 1.50 crore fraud case over the rights of their 2007 comedy Dhamaal. A Mumbai-based distributor, Vikas Baldevraj Sahni of Grand Master, filed a complaint claiming the duo sold the film's rights to his company even though some rights had already been given to another firm. An FIR was registered on August 17 at Amboli Police Station under Sections 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deal with cheating and acts committed with common intention.

Sahni alleged that Grand Master signed an agreement with Maruti International, associated with Thakeria, on October 15, 2019, and paid Rs 1.50 crore for permanent worldwide distribution, digital and copyright rights. He claimed he was assured the rights had not been sold to anyone else, but later found out that lifetime OTT and digital rights had already been sold to Shemaroo Entertainment in 2015. Thakeria reportedly visited the distributor's office in January 2020 and informed them about the earlier Shemaroo deal, raising concerns.

Maruti International issued a statement saying discussions are underway to resolve the dispute. The distributor also claimed that several deals with leading digital platforms fell through due to the confusion over rights, causing major financial losses. Grand Master holds a government-issued copyright certificate and the original negative of the film.