Sourav Ganguly loses bid to stop Doosra release as Delhi HC refuses stay
File photo: Hash Milhan from London, United Kingdom (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
The Delhi High Court on October 22, 2026 refused to stay the October 23 release of Doosra on Sourav Ganguly's personality rights plea; the case continues.
What Happened
The Delhi High Court on Thursday, October 22, 2026 refused to stop the release of the Hindi film Doosra, which former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly says uses his identity without permission. Justice Dinesh Bhatt declined to pass an interim order holding back the film, which is due in cinemas on October 23, and kept the matter for a further hearing. The court has not yet ruled on the merits of Ganguly's personality rights claim.
Key Facts
- Court and date: Delhi High Court, Justice Dinesh Bhatt, Thursday, October 22, 2026; no stay on release.
- Plaintiffs: Sourav Ganguly and Luv Films LLP, which reportedly holds exclusive rights since an agreement of August 5, 2021 to make audiovisual content on Ganguly's life.
- Ganguly's claim: the film and its promotions, launched on October 12, draw on his captaincy of India and the 2002 NatWest Series final win over England without a licence.
- Makers' defence: counsel told the court Doosra is not a biopic but the story of a girl from Rajasthan who is inspired by Ganguly, and that licences were obtained for footage of the 2002 final.
- The film: directed by Abhinay Deo; Plabita Borthakur plays the lead character, Tara.
- Authorised biopic: Dada - The Sourav Ganguly Story, made under the Luv Films agreement, is reported to be scheduled for May 14, 2027.
- Status: the release goes ahead while the suit continues; the court has not decided whether the film is fiction or uses Ganguly's identity.
Why It Matters
"Personality rights" are the rights of a well-known person to control commercial use of their name, image, voice and other features that identify them. Such claims are usually aimed at advertisements and merchandise. This case tests a harder question: how far those rights reach when a work of fiction is built around real public events.
Ganguly's side argues that the film trades on his name and on one of the best-remembered moments of his career, the 2002 NatWest Series final, without permission. That matters commercially because Luv Films says it holds the exclusive rights to tell his story and is preparing an authorised biopic. If another film can draw heavily on the same story first, the value of those exclusive rights could fall.
The makers argue the opposite. In their account, the film is not about Ganguly at all but about a young woman whose life is shaped by a famous match, and they say the footage they use was properly licensed. Real sporting events are part of public history, and many films and books refer to them. A ruling that blocked such references too widely could limit creative work.
By refusing a stay at this stage, the court has let the film reach audiences while leaving the legal questions open. One report said the court noted that the balance of convenience favoured the makers, meaning the harm of stopping a finished film was weighed against the harm Ganguly claims; other reports said the reasons had not yet been set out. The final decision may still shape how filmmakers in India approach stories inspired by living sports stars.
| Point | Ganguly and Luv Films | Doosra's makers |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of film | Uses his identity and career | A fictional story inspired by him |
| 2002 NatWest final | Used without licence | Footage licensed |
| Remedy sought | Stop release | Release as planned |
Impact
Short-term: Doosra can release in cinemas on October 23, 2026 as planned. The court will hear the matter further, and its order on interim relief could affect promotions or the film's later release on other platforms.
Long-term: The final ruling could clarify where personality rights end and creative freedom begins for films inspired by real sporting figures, and how much protection an exclusive biopic agreement gives.
Who is affected: Sourav Ganguly and Luv Films, the makers and cast of Doosra, producers planning sports-based films, and cinema audiences.
Key Takeaway
The Delhi High Court on October 22, 2026 refused to stay the October 23 release of Doosra on Sourav Ganguly's personality rights plea, leaving the dispute over whether the film uses his identity for a later hearing.
Questions and Answers
Why did Sourav Ganguly go to court over the film Doosra?
Ganguly and Luv Films LLP say the film and its promotions use his identity, his captaincy and India's 2002 NatWest Series final win without permission. Luv Films reportedly holds exclusive rights since 2021 to make content on his life.
Did the Delhi High Court stop Doosra's release?
No. On October 22, 2026, Justice Dinesh Bhatt declined to stay the film's release on October 23 and kept the matter for further hearing. The court has not ruled on the merits of the claim.
What do the film's makers say?
Their counsel said Doosra is not a biopic but the story of a girl from Rajasthan who draws inspiration from Ganguly, and that licences were obtained for footage of the 2002 final.
What are personality rights?
They are the rights of a well-known person to control commercial use of their name, image, voice and other identifying features. Ganguly's suit asks the court to apply them to a feature film.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
