JioStar has finally responded to the legal storm surrounding its upcoming film Queen 2, starring Kangana Ranaut. The production house has firmly denied allegations that the film steals from the 2014 hit Queen, calling it an "original, independent story."
The statement comes days after Phantom Studios, the producer of the original Queen, filed a Rs 250 crore lawsuit in the Bombay High Court. Phantom Studios claims that JioStar used the Queen intellectual property without permission and that the film is essentially an unauthorised sequel.
JioStar's official response to the Queen 2 lawsuit
In a statement published by Mid-Day, JioStar rejected all allegations of infringement. The company maintained that Queen 2 has no creative connection with the National Award-winning drama from 2014.
According to Deccan Herald, JioStar has vowed to fight the lawsuit, insisting that the film is an original project and not a sequel to the earlier film.
What Phantom Studios alleges
Phantom Studios has claimed ownership of 50 per cent of the original Queen's intellectual property rights. The studio argued that it had not granted permission for any sequel or derivative work based on the 2014 film.
The lawsuit, filed in the Bombay High Court, alleges that JioStar developed Queen 2 without authorisation and that the film infringes upon the intellectual property rights of the original hit.
"Queen 2 is not a sequel." — JioStar's clarification, as reported by Mid-Day
Our Take: A legal battle over creative ownership
This case highlights a growing tension in Bollywood over intellectual property rights. Phantom Studios clearly believes that the Queen brand has value, and they want to protect their stake in it. JioStar, on the other hand, is asserting its right to make an original film with the same lead actress and a similar title.
In our view, the court will have to decide whether Queen 2 is truly an independent story or whether it rides too heavily on the success and recognition of the original. For now, JioStar has drawn a clear line: they say this is not a sequel, and they are ready to defend that position in court.
Fans of Kangana Ranaut and the original Queen will have to wait for the legal process to unfold before they know if the film will release as planned.
