In the long, storied history of Indian cricket, few images are as indelible as the moment Sourav Ganguly stood on the balcony of Lord's Cricket Ground, ripping off his jersey in a roar of defiance. It was 2002, a year defined by the NatWest series final, and that single act of unbridled emotion transformed a captain into a cultural icon. For decades, that celebration has belonged to him—a visual shorthand for passion, leadership, and the rising spirit of a nation. But in a Delhi courtroom, the question arose: can a moment of history be claimed so exclusively that it prevents others from drawing inspiration from it?
The tension reached a boiling point when Ganguly, the former Indian cricket captain and former BCCI President, joined forces with production house Luv Films to file a lawsuit in the Delhi High Court. Their objective was singular: to secure a stay on the release of the film Doosra. The core of their argument rested on the concept of personality rights—the legal idea that a public figure has control over how their name, likeness, and unique life events are used for commercial gain. Ganguly argued that the film used his name and that specific, iconic 2002 celebration without his permission, potentially confusing the public and infringing upon his established rights, particularly as he maintains a separate agreement for his own official biopic.
Saurav Ganguly moves Delhi High Court against movie Doosra, claims rights over Lord's shirtless celebration report by @prashantjha996 https://t.co/YgXnZYQA5I
The filmmakers behind Doosra met the challenge with a distinction between biography and inspiration. They clarified to the court that the film is not a biopic of Sourav Ganguly. Instead, they framed it as a fictional narrative centered on a girl, a story that happens to be inspired by the legendary celebration. To bolster their position, the production team noted that they had obtained the necessary licenses from the BCCI, the governing body of Indian cricket. This distinction—between a life story and a fictional work that borrows a cultural motif—became the pivot upon which the legal argument turned.
The decision meant that the film would not be pulled from its scheduled release, allowing the cinematic machinery to proceed as planned.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, the clock became a decisive factor. The film was slated for a release on October 23, 2026. In the world of cinema, once the massive machinery of distribution, marketing, and theatrical preparation is set in motion, reversing course is a monumental task. The court was forced to weigh the potential infringement of Ganguly's personality rights against the logistical and financial realities of a film ready to hit theaters.
Delhi High Court refuses to put a stay on the film "Doosra" which is alleged to have infringed former Indian Cricket Team captain Saurav Ganguly's personality rights. The film is said to be not the biopic of Ganguly rather it's about a girl from Rajasthan who drew inspiration from Ganguly where footages of Natwest series was taken of Saurav Ganguly's achivement . Further the Court observed that players do not have rights over the footages. Hence stay was quashed.
Justice Dinesh Bhatt, presiding over the matter in the Delhi High Court, ultimately declined to grant the requested stay. The court’s reasoning centered on the 'balance of convenience.' Because the preparations for the film's release were already complete, the court found that the momentum of the film's launch outweighed the immediate need to halt it. The decision meant that the film would not be pulled from its scheduled release, allowing the cinematic machinery to proceed as planned.
While the decision was a setback for the petition, it was not a total dismissal of the underlying grievances. Justice Bhatt was explicit in his ruling, stating, "I have not granted any stay, so the film can be released." This distinction is crucial: while the film is permitted to reach audiences, the legal battle over the core issue of personality rights is far from over. The court indicated that the main legal proceedings regarding how much control a public figure holds over their most famous moments will continue.
For Ganguly and Luv Films, the fight is about more than just one movie; it is about the boundaries of celebrity. If a fictional character can mirror a captain's most famous gesture, where does the individual's right to their own legacy end and the public's right to creative expression begin? The lawsuit highlights a modern legal frontier where the lines between a person's life and their brand are increasingly blurred.
As of now, the film Doosra remains on track to hit theaters on October 23, 2026. The immediate threat of a legal injunction has passed, but the broader implications of the case loom large. The Delhi High Court has allowed the story to be told, but the legal definition of a legend's rights remains a matter for future debate.