Sayani Gupta files ₹9 crore defamation suit against Vinita Negi over 'Aasmani' plagiarism allegations

Actor and filmmaker Sayani Gupta has filed a defamation suit before the Mumbai City Civil Court against filmmaker Vinita Negi seeking ₹9 crore in damages [Sayani Gupta v. Vinita Negi & Ors.]

The suit also names tech companies like Meta and Reddit, alongside Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, as defendants .

An application for urgent hearing and interim orders is likely to be listed before additional sessions judge Shudhirkumar Murlidharrao Bukke on September 3.

The dispute stems from Gupta’s directorial debut, a short fiction film titled Aasmani.

Negi, an alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), accused Gupta of copyright infringement and breach of trust.

Negi alleged that Aasmani heavily borrowed from her unfinished documentary Prabha. Both projects feature an elderly woman and a vintage car. 

Gupta’s suit has now claimed that Negi's allegations are false, misleading, unsubstantiated and defamatory.

As per her plea, copyright law protects original expression, not abstract ideas.

"The mere presence of an elderly woman, a car, a driver or any other generic element in a creative work does not confer upon Negi a monopoly over such ideas or concepts,” the suit states.

According to the suit, Negi filed a complaint with the Screenwriters Association (SWA) in April 2026. While the SWA proceedings were still pending, Negi allegedly circulated a "Statement of Support" on WhatsApp and social media to mobilize industry backing for her allegations. 

This purportedly garnered over 250 signatures from the film fraternity, the suit has alleged.

As per the plea,

“The signatures appear to have been procured on the basis of the narrative and allegations disseminated by Negi, rather than upon any independent examination of the Film or comparison of the respective works.”

According to Gupta, this campaign caused concrete professional harm since her film ‘Aasmani’ was abruptly withdrawn from the Indian Film Festival of New Zealand (TIFFNZ).

“The defamatory content has consequently cast a false and unwarranted cloud over Gupta’s professional integrity and credibility as a filmmaker, with the continuing dissemination thereof being capable of causing further and substantial prejudice to her reputation, career and professional prospects,” the suit states. 

Gupta has sought mandatory injunction directing Meta, Reddit, and Deccan Chronicle to take down all related defamatory articles and posts. Furthermore, she has demanded an unconditional apology and public retraction from Negi. 

The suit was filed through A&P Partners law firm.