HC refuses to stay "Fan" release on copyright violation charge

The Bombay High Court today refused to stay the release of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer film "Fan" following a suit filed by a writer alleging copyright infringement, but asked the actor and the movie's producer Yashraj Films to file their replies within two weeks.
"Fan" is scheduled for release on April 15.
Justice Gautam Patel was hearing a suit filed by writer-director Mahesh Doijode, who claimed that he wrote a script, which has similarities with "Fan", in 1994 and had registered it with the Film Writers Association under the name 'Abhineta' in 1997.
Doijode claimed he had narrated the story to director Yash Chopra in 1997 when the latter was shooting for his film "Dil Toh Pagal Hai". He said Chopra had liked the concept.

He further claimed that following this, in 1998, he narrated the story to Shah Rukh Khan also.
Doijode claimed that Yash Chopra had later asked him to get in touch with Aditya Chopra for further discussion, but nothing materialised.

"However, when I saw the trailer of the movie 'Fan', I realised it was similar to the script written by me," he said.
Doijode approached the high court seeking the movie to be stayed pending hearing of his suit, and also sought Rs 25 crore damages from Shah Rukh Khan and Yashraj Films.
Justice Patel today refused to stay the release of the movie, but asked the respondents, including Khan and Yashraj Films, to file their affidavits within two weeks.