Kapil Sharma Show faces Rs 25 crore legal notice, Firoz Nadiadwala files copyright case for…

From comedy and entertaining sketches to guest chit-chats, The Great India(BHARAT)n Kapil Show has been entertaining audiences for a long time now. But this time, in a turn of events, this show has landed in legal trouble. In the final episode, Akshay Kumar appeared as the guest, and the episode saw a massive controversy. Producer Firoz A. Nadiadwala has issued a legal notice demanding Rs 25 crore in damages. The issue started from the unauthorised portrayal of the iconic Hera Pheri character Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, originally played by Paresh Rawal.

Kiku Sharda’s portrayal of Baburao faces controversy.

The controversy started when comedian Kiku Sharda performed an act on the show portraying the character of Baburao. But this did not sit well with the producer, Nadiadwala, who owns the rights to the character. According to him, the alleged portrayal of this character was done without his permission, raising an issue of copyright and trademark. In his statement, he said, “Baburao is not just a character but the soul of Hera Pheri. This legacy was built with our sweat, vision, and creativity, and no one can hijack or misuse it without our permission. Paresh Rawalji nurtured the role and put his heart and soul into it. No one has the right to misuse it for wrongful commercial gain. We will protect what we have created because culture is not for exploitation; it is for preservation.”

Legal notice and compensation

The legal notice sent to Netflix and the show’s production house cites violations under the Copyright Act, 1957, and the Trademarks Act, arguing that Baburao is a registered trademark owned by Nadiadwala’s family. The complaint also incorporated infringement of exclusive rights under Section 14 of the Copyright Act, which includes the communication of a work to the public and its use in films.

As per reports for compensation, the team has demanded that the specific segment be removed from Netflix, social media, and all third-party channels immediately. They have also worked for a written undertaking of refraining from using the character to be used in the future without authorisation,  along with a public apology within 24 hours. Additionally, damages and compensation of Rs 25 crore have been sought within two days of receiving the notice.

Advocate Sana Raees Khan, who is representing Nadiadwala’s case, said in her statement, “The unauthorised use of my client’s iconic character is not just infringement; it is blatant theft for commercial gain. The law will not allow the dilution of rights that have been lawfully earned and zealously protected. These rights will be defended with the full force of legal action so that no one treats a creative legacy as a free commodity for exploitation.”

With this ongoing legal battle, fans and the industry are curious to see how this battle will unfold.

Story Highlight:

1. The Great India(BHARAT)n Kapil Show lands in legal trouble.
   
2. Producer Firoz A. Nadiadwala has issued a legal notice for unauthorised portrayal of the iconic Hera Pheri character Baburao Ganpatrao Apte.
   
3. Compensation amounting to Rs 25 crore has been demanded within two days of receiving the notice.