Rs 400 Crore Bollywood WAR! Vashu Bhagnani drags David Dhawan, Tips to court over Biwi No.1 songs

Just days before the release of David Dhawan’s upcoming comedy Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, a massive legal battle has exploded in Bollywood. Veteran producer Vashu Bhagnani’s Puja Entertainment has now filed a staggering Rs 400 crore lawsuit before the Bombay High Court against Tips Industries Limited, Ramesh Taurani, Kumar S Taurani and filmmaker David Dhawan.

At the center of the controversy are two iconic songs from the 1999 blockbuster Biwi No.1, Chunnari Chunnari and Ishq Sona Hai, which are reportedly being used in Varun Dhawan’s upcoming film. Puja Entertainment has alleged that the songs were recreated and commercially exploited without proper rights and permissions.

The lawsuit has not only intensified the already ongoing dispute between the two production giants, but has also placed Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai under a cloud of uncertainty just days before its scheduled June 5 theatrical release.

The Biwi No.1 Songs At The Heart Of The Battle

According to Puja Entertainment, the issue began after the makers of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai used recreated versions of Chunnari Chunnari and Ishq Sona Hai in the film and its promotions. Bhagnani’s legal team claims that Tips only possessed audio rights to the songs through old agreements signed decades ago, and not the visual or cinematographic rights attached to the original film.

The production house has argued that the songs cannot legally be recreated and used visually in another film without their approval. Their lawyers also revealed that back in 2018, Tips had allegedly approached them through email seeking visual rights, but the matter never reached a settlement.

Puja Entertainment further stated that they later sent a legal notice cancelling the previously granted audio rights. The suit now seeks urgent relief from the Bombay High Court, including a halt on the release, distribution, streaming and promotion of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai wherever the disputed songs appear.

The dispute has gone even further because the film’s title itself appears to be inspired by the Biwi No.1 song Ishq Sona Hai. Bhagnani’s camp has demanded that the title be changed if the makers fail to remove the songs from the film. Reports also state that an additional ?100 crore in damages has been sought if the demands are ignored.

Meanwhile, Tips Industries has strongly denied all allegations. Ramesh Taurani’s company has maintained that it lawfully owns the music rights through valid agreements signed years ago and insists that the use of the songs is completely legal. The company has even described the accusations as baseless and part of an attempt to damage the film before release.

Earlier this year, Puja Entertainment reportedly secured interim protection and a status quo order from a court regarding the disputed songs. Vashu Bhagnani had then publicly called the order a victory for producers and filmmakers, saying music companies should not misuse cinematic assets created by film producers.

The matter first saw legal movement in Bihar, where filings were reportedly made before a civil court in Katihar. Soon after, complications surrounding the dispute allegedly led to the cancellation of a major trailer launch event connected to Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. Additional filings were later moved in Patna as the matter became more intense.

On the other hand, Tips and the film’s team have claimed that they already secured relief from the Supreme Court in relation to these rights.

The Fate

As things stand, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, starring Varun Dhawan, Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur, continues to remain in the spotlight for reasons far beyond its comedy and music. Whether the dispute reaches a settlement or turns into a long courtroom battle, one thing is certain: this nostalgia-fueled conflict has already become one of Bollywood’s most dramatic industry showdowns of the year.