A legal dispute has emerged over the Hindi film Bholaa, with the producers of the original Tamil film Kaithi approaching the Bombay High Court alleging violation of remake and copyright agreements. The
matter, now under judicial consideration, centres on contractual obligations and payment disputes linked to the remake rights.
Bholaa, released in 2023, is the official Hindi adaptation of the 2019 Tamil hit Kaithi, which starred Karthi. Nearly three years after the remake’s release, Dream Warrior Pictures has initiated legal proceedings, asserting that it remains the sole owner of the original film’s copyright and remake rights.
The case was heard by a single-judge bench led by Justice Sharmila Deshmukh, which has reserved its order on a preliminary objection raised by the Bholaa producers regarding whether the Bombay High Court has the territorial jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter.
According to a report by Bar and Bench, the dispute traces back to multiple agreements executed between the parties. In February 2020, the Tamil film’s producers entered into a collaboration with a Reliance Group entity. This was followed by a Remake Rights Assignment Agreement dated March 29, 2023, between Dream Warrior Pictures and Reliance Entertainment Studios for the Hindi adaptation.
Under this agreement, the producers of Kaithi were to receive a fixed assignment fee in instalments, along with additional variable payments tied to the film’s commercial performance. However, they have alleged that only Rs 1 crore plus GST was paid in April 2022, with subsequent payments remaining pending.
Following the release of Bholaa on March 30, 2023, a tripartite agreement was signed on April 1, 2023, involving Dream Warrior Pictures, Reliance Entertainment, and Ajay Devgn Ffilms LLP. The agreement reportedly granted joint ownership of remake rights to all three parties, while assigning exploitation rights to Reliance.
Dream Warrior Pictures has claimed that the second and third instalments due under the earlier agreement, scheduled for April 29 and May 29, 2023, were not paid. The company stated that it sent multiple reminders seeking payments and financial disclosures through 2023 and 2024, but did not receive any response.
Subsequently, on October 28, 2024, the production house issued a legal notice demanding Rs 4 crore along with interest. The notice also warned that failure to clear dues within 30 days would lead to termination of the agreement and reversion of all rights.
According to the producers, the agreement stood terminated after November 27, 2024, with all remake and exploitation rights reverting to them.
In parallel, Dream Warrior Pictures had approached the National Company Law Tribunal (Mumbai bench) under Section 9, seeking initiation of insolvency proceedings against Reliance Entertainment over alleged unpaid operational debts. However, in August 2025, the tribunal dismissed the plea, stating that disputes related to contractual and intellectual property issues must be resolved through a civil court.
The matter is now pending before the Bombay High Court, with further clarity expected once the court delivers its ruling on jurisdiction and the merits of the case.
