When filmmaker Pahlaj Nihalani was at the helm of Central Board Of Film Certification, he was accused of behaving arbitrarily while issuing certificates to films. Some of the filmmakers had to even knock the doors of the court to ensure the release of their films.
Now, it seems, Pahlaj is reaping what he has sowed during his tenure as CBFC head. As we all know that right after his farewell from CBFC, Nihalani returned to his first loves - movies - and decided to present and distribute the erotic thriller film Julie 2, starring Raai Laxmi.
The film, directed by Deepak Shivdasani, is a sequel to the Neha Dhupia starrer Julie which came out in 2004. Julie 2 was all set to release on 6th October, but one week away from its release producer N R Pachisia has sued Nihalani and Deepak Shivdasani for copyright infringement. Pachisia has claimed that the title of the film belongs to him. With a lot of controversies and a legal case, the release date of 6th October stands cancelled.
When Nihalani was asked about the whole issue, he said, “It’s all because of this gentleman, a producer called N R Pachisia who claims the title Julie is his just because he produced a film with the same title 13 years ago. By that logic, we should also be taken to court by the makers of the famous Laxmi starrer Julie from 1975. Our film Julie (2) has nothing to do with the earlier Julie. The earlier film was about a prostitute. Our Julie is about a star aspirant. Still, Mr Pachisia has gone to court claiming copyright infringement. Since the coming weekend is a long one with Dussehra and Gandhi Jayanti holidays there is no time to get the matter sorted. We just have to respect the honourable court and wait for its verdict."
Adding further, he said, "And no regrets. We will come whenever we find the right window. I am in no hurry. I am confident of Julie 2. I wish Saif Ali Khan and his big release Chef all the best on their release on October 6. But I am also determined to teach producers like Mr Pachisia a lesson for harassing on-release films by taking them to court just weeks and days before release. This is nothing but a form of extortion. I plan to take very strict legal action on this issue."
