Bombay High Court denies urgent relief to Phantom Studios in suit against JioStar over Queen sequel

The Bombay High Court on Thursday refused to grant urgent interim relief to Phantom Studios in its ₹250 crore suit over the film Queen Forever which Phantom claims is an unauthorised sequel to the 2014 film Queen [Phantom Studios v. JioStar India & Ors].

The matter was mentioned before Justice Gauri Godse by counsel for Phantom seeking urgent listing of the matter so that orders can be passed to restrain JioStar from creating third-party rights in the film, including distribution deals.

They cited urgency based on the Instagram post by the lead actor Kangana Ranaut on the completion of the film shoot. 

However, the judge questioned the urgency of the plea and said she would be inclined to pass orders only after granting adequate opportunity to JioStar to file its reply.

Phantom has sued JioStar India for ₹250 crore alleging that Queen Forever breaches a 2012 co‑production agreement and a 2022 deed of novation under which Phantom and JioStar (earlier Viacom18) are claimed to be joint and equal owners of all intellectual property and derivative rights in Queen. 

It has sought permanent and interim injunctions to restrain any sequel, remake or derivative work based on Queen without its consent, while JioStar maintains the new project is an original, independent film.

In a press release, JioStar had denied these allegations claiming the new film is not a continuation of the original film. 

Senior advocate Ravi Kadam, appearing for JioStar, contended that Phantom had been aware of the project since April 2025 and had already engaged in correspondence with JioStar. He also pointed out that the film is expected to release later this year.

He also submitted that Phantom could not rely on the Instagram post as it was not part of the interim application. 

The Court permitted Phantom to amend its plea to bring the Instagram post on record and kept the matter for hearing on August 4. 

Advocates Shyam Kapadia and Rohan Dakshini briefed by Rashmikant & Partners appeared for Phantom Studios.

Kadam appeared along with advocates Ameet Naik and Madhu Gadodia from Naik Naik & Co represented JioStar India.