Bollywood's 'spiritual sequels' spark a major IP law battle: What filmmakers need to know
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Hindi language filmmakers who have increasingly begun to bank on the trend of ‘spiritual sequels’ – films that may be similar in tone or theme to an earlier hit, but not a direct continuation of the plot, or even those that feature the same cast – may be in for legal challenges. Film production and distribution house Eros International Media has filed a suit in the Bombay High Court against filmmaker Aanand L Rai and his production house Colour Yellow Media Entertainment LLP.
It accused them of trademark infringement and copyright infringement over Rai’s recent film Tere Ishk Mein. Eros says the film has been projected as a spiritual sequel to its 2013 film Raanjhana, also directed by Rai. In 2024, the Delhi High Court restrained film production company T-Series from using titles Tu Hi Aashiqui, Tu Hi Aashiqui Hai and Aashiqui for an upcoming film. It ruled in favour of Vishesh Films, a film company owned by Mukesh Bhatt that started the Aashiqui franchise.
T-Series had backed a romantic drama that was to be released as a spiritual sequel to the Aashiqui franchise. Experts said spiritual sequels in Bollywood are less about creative continuity and more about intellectual property risk. Titles, trademarks, character rights and even the goodwill attached to a film are legally protectable assets.
When a new project markets itself as a sequel or spiritual successor without securing those rights, it risks infringing on registered marks, diluting brand equity and misleading audiences. Over the past few years, Bollywood has produced spiritual sequels such as Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and 3, Metro..In Dino, Dhadak 2, Son of Sardaar 2, and films in the Housefull franchise. However, many of them were
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