Mastiii 4 faces legal trouble after content creator alleges plagiarism over comedy scene

Riteish Deshmukh starrer Mastiii 4 has landed in legal trouble following allegations of plagiarism raised by a content creator. The comedy film, featuring Aftab Shivdasani and Vivek Oberoi, released last year and is now facing scrutiny ahead of its digital release.

Popular content creator Ashish Sharma filed a case against the makers in the Delhi High Court on January 6. He alleged that a key comedy scene in Mastiii 4 mirrors his viral Instagram reel, Shaq Karne Ka Nateeja, posted in January 2024 and viewed over 11 million times.

According to Live Law, Ashish claimed that the sequence in the film closely resembles his original content. In his plea, he stated that the central idea, storyline, character interactions, sequence of events, and the comic punchline were copied without consent or credit.

The creator has sought a permanent injunction against the producers of Mastiii 4. He has also demanded financial compensation along with a complete disclosure of profits earned, citing unauthorised use of his creative work.

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, heading a single judge bench, heard the plea for urgent relief. Considering the film’s upcoming OTT release, the court issued a notice to the producers, stating they must respond before any interim order. The court noted that a short notice period was reasonable due to the film’s current release stage. The matter is scheduled to be heard next on January 13, 2026.

The Masti franchise has often drawn attention for its adult humour. In an earlier interaction with Times Now, actor Aftab Shivdasani addressed criticism that the films objectify women or promote extramarital affairs. “From Masti 1, people said we were objectifying women and promoting extramarital affairs. But the premise was simple: three men want to have fun outside, but end up learning a lesson from their wives,” he said.

He added, “We were never trying to preach. It’s all for entertainment, not to oversensitise people. There are many serious films on affairs, but no one questions those.”

Released on November 21, Mastiii 4 marks return of Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi, and Aftab Shivdasani. The film stars Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, and Nargis Fakhri. It is expected on OTT platforms.