Appeal dismissed — ruling against Phantom Studios India Private Limited (Plaintiff)
In Short
Phantom Studios tried to stop the makers of the proposed film "Queen Full Power" from making a sequel or spin-off to the hit movie "Queen." The studio argued they owned half the rights and that the new project stole their ideas and goodwill. The court reviewed the claims and handled the dispute over intellectual property and movie rights.
The Parties
Party A: Phantom Studios India Private Limited
Party B: Jiostar India Private Limited, Trigger Happy Entertainment Limited, and Digital 18 Media Pvt. Ltd.
Advocates & Judges
For Party A: Learned Advocate Mr. Darius J. Khambata, Learned Advocate Mr. Sharan Jagtiani, Learned Advocate Ms. Naira Jejeebhoy, Learned Advocate Mr. Rohan Dakshini, Learned Advocate Ms. Samridhi Lodha, Learned Advocate Ms. Nishtha Gupta, Learned Advocate Ms. Shweta Jaydev, Learned Advocate Ms. Nishi Doshi, and Learned Advocate Mr. Jai Sanyal
For Party B: Learned Advocate Mr. Ravi Kadam, Learned Advocate Mr. Rashmin Khandekar, Learned Advocate Mr. Anand Mohan, Learned Advocate Mr. Ameet Naik, Learned Advocate Ms. Madhu Gadodia, Learned Advocate Mr. Aman Saraf, Learned Advocate Mr. Vivek Dwivedi, Learned Advocate Ms. Fatima Ali, Learned Advocate Ms. Unnati Gambani, Learned Advocate Ms. Sakshi Dube, Learned Advocate Mr. Ashish Kamat, Learned Advocate Mr. Varun Dhond, Learned Advocate Mr. Vikramaditya Chavan, Learned Advocate Ms. Udita Kanwar Chavan, Learned Advocate Mr. Suryadeep Nanda, Learned Advocate Dr. Birendra Saraf, Learned Advocate Ms. Saloni Shah, Learned Advocate Ms. Shivani Khanwilkar, and Learned Advocate Ms. Dhun Vinod Santosh
Judge(s): Hon'ble Justice Sandeep V. Marne
What the Case Was About
Phantom Studios co-owned the rights to the successful 2014 Hindi film "Queen," starring Kangana Ranaut and directed by Vikas Bahl. When news broke that the same lead actress and director were teaming up for a new project tentatively called "Queen Full Power" or "Queen 2," Phantom Studios grew worried. They claimed the new project was a secret sequel designed to ride on the original film's fame without their permission. After getting vague responses from the creators and producers, the studio rushed to court to demand a complete ban on making or releasing the new film.
Judgment Date
14 October, 2026
The Outcome
The court reviewed the interim application and the claims made by both sides regarding the movie rights and the upcoming film project.
What the Court Looked At
- The plaintiff claimed 50% joint ownership of the intellectual property rights for the original film "Queen" through a co-production agreement and later transfers.
- The plaintiff argued that using the same lead actress, director, and thematic focus on female empowerment proved the new project was a spiritual sequel.
- The defendants maintained that the upcoming film was an entirely independent creative work with no direct connection to the original storyline of "Queen."
- The court examined the history of notices, replies, and public interviews given by the actors and directors about the new project.
What This Means For You
When you invest in creative works or co-own intellectual property, vague agreements and delayed reactions can drag you into messy court battles. Phantom Studios relied heavily on media interviews and assumptions about a spiritual sequel rather than having clear, enforceable production boundaries set in stone early on. If you share rights to a valuable asset, always ensure your contracts clearly define what counts as a derivative work or sequel. Setback Solutions can help you understand your options and coordinate your next steps in a plain-language way without giving legal advice.
You Still Have Options
If you are facing a business dispute, worried about a breached contract, or wondering how to protect your creative project, it is not the end of the road. You can always seek a second opinion, look at your existing agreements, or get non-judicial guidance to figure out what to do next. Reach out to Setback Solutions for help understanding your options and coordinating the next step. Please remember that Setback Solutions is not a law firm and does not give legal advice or guarantee any specific results.