Eros International Media Ltd has taken a bold legal step. The company has approached the Bombay High Court with a serious complaint. It accuses filmmaker Aanand L Rai and his production house, Colour Yellow Media Entertainment LLP, of a major intellectual property violation. The core allegation states they illegally capitalized on the goodwill of Eros's 2013 blockbuster film, Raanjhanaa. This happened while they were promoting and releasing their new 2025 movie, Tere Ishk Mein.
A Multi-Crore Legal Battle Begins
In a detailed commercial IP suit and an interim application, Eros has laid out strong charges. The company alleges trademark infringement, copyright infringement, and the legal concept of passing off. Eros claims the defendants deliberately projected Tere Ishq Mein as a spiritual sequel to Raanjhanaa. They did this without seeking or obtaining any permission from Eros, the original rights holder.
The financial demand is substantial. Eros is seeking a compensation of ₹84 crores. This amount is for the damages the company claims it suffered due to Rai's actions. The lawsuit names multiple high-profile parties as defendants. Apart from Aanand L Rai and Colour Yellow Media Entertainment LLP, the list includes Super Cassettes Industries, popularly known as T-Series. It also names writer Himanshu Sharma and Netflix Entertainment Services India LLP. This transforms the case into a complex, multi-party copyright and trademark battle centered on two films.
What Exactly is Eros Claiming?
According to the legal complaint, Eros asserts it is the producer and exclusive owner of all intellectual property rights for Raanjhanaa. This broad ownership includes copyright, registered trademarks, and specific character rights. It also covers the rights to create sequels, prequels, or remakes.
The suit clearly states, "The Plaintiff is the producer and exclusive owner of all intellectual property rights in the highly successful Hindi language film 'Raanjhanaa'." This ownership extends to the copyright, the registered trademark for the name 'Raanjhanaa', and the rights to characters like 'Kundan Shankar' and 'Murari'. Eros claims the defendants misused these valuable rights to market their film, Tere Ishk Mein, which hit theaters on November 28, 2025.
The Teaser That Sparked the Fire
A major trigger for this lawsuit was an online teaser released in July 2025. Eros says it discovered this promotional material used specific phrases that directly linked the new film to Raanjhanaa. The teaser included lines like "From the world of Raanjhanaa" and social media hashtags such as "#WorldOfRaanjhanaa".
The interim application notes this unauthorized use. It says, "The Defendants have made unauthorized use of the Applicant's Rights / Applicant's Film/brand/mark 'Raanjhanaa' for the promotion of the Impugned Film titled 'Tere Ishk Mein'." Eros further alleges the teaser even used actual footage, background score, and music from the original Raanjhanaa. This is notable because Eros no longer owns the music rights to that film.
Similar Characters and Story Arcs
One of the strongest allegations in the complaint focuses on character similarities. Eros points out that actor Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub plays a very similar role in both films. In Raanjhanaa, he portrayed Murari, a sharp-witted friend. In Tere Ishk Mein, he appears to play a character with a nearly identical function and perspective.
The complaint argues, "Murari, portrayed by Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub, in both films, is a sharp-witted friend whose perspective adds conscience to the plot." Eros claims this constitutes an unauthorized reproduction and commercial exploitation of their copyrighted character. The allegations don't stop there. Eros also claims the lead character in Tere Ishk Mein, played by Dhanush and named Shankar, closely mirrors Raanjhanaa's protagonist, Kundan Shankar. They point to similar emotional journeys, dialogues, and overarching themes between the two characters.
Legal Warnings Ignored, Says Eros
Eros states it took formal legal action before the film's release. The company issued a cease-and-desist notice to the defendants on July 25, 2025. It followed this up with reminder notices in September. Initially, some references to Raanjhanaa were reportedly removed from promotional materials. However, Eros alleges that when Tere Ishk Mein finally released, it still carried strong and undeniable similarities to their 2013 hit.
The legal complaint is firm on this point. It states, "Despite receiving explicit legal notices, the Defendants proceeded to release and exploit the Impugned Film on 28th November 2025 while persisting in wrongful acts." After watching the released version, Eros claims it found extensive evidence of copyright and trademark infringement. The company maintains the film was repeatedly described and marketed as a spiritual sequel to Raanjhanaa, a claim they say has no legal basis.
This case highlights the fierce protection of intellectual property in Bollywood. It sets the stage for a significant legal precedent regarding spiritual sequels and character rights. The Bombay High Court will now examine these serious allegations of unauthorized use and financial damage.
