Queen 2, the sequel to Kangana Ranaut’s critically acclaimed 2014 film Queen, recently completed its shoot and entered post production. Directed by Vikas Bahl, who also helmed the original, the film was expected to move a step closer to its theatrical release. However, it has now found itself in legal trouble.
According to the latest reports, Phantom Studios has filed a Rs. 250 crore lawsuit against JioStar in the Bombay High Court, alleging that Queen 2 is an unauthorised sequel and infringes the intellectual property rights of the original film. The production house claims it owns a 50 percent stake in the Queen IP, including the rights to produce sequels, and says it never gave its consent for the new film.
Reports further state that Phantom Studios had issued a public notice in April and also held multiple rounds of discussions with JioStar and director Vikas Bahl in an attempt to resolve the matter before approaching the court. The lawsuit was reportedly filed after the studio learned that the sequel had completed filming.
As of now, JioStar has not publicly responded to the allegations. With the legal battle now underway, it remains to be seen whether the dispute will have any impact on Queen 2’s release plans in the coming months.