‘These things happen in business’: Aanand L Rai on Eros’ Rs 84 crore lawsuit

Filmmaker Aanand L Rai has reacted to the Rs 84 crore lawsuit filed by Eros International Media Ltd, which accuses him and his production house of misrepresenting Tere Ishk Mein as a “spiritual sequel” to his 2013 film Raanjhanaa. The legal dispute has drawn attention within the industry, given the popularity of the original film and the scale of damages being sought.

Anand L Rai breaks his silence on the Rs 84 crore lawsuit

Addressing the controversy, Rai maintained a calm and dismissive tone, suggesting that such disputes are part and parcel of working in the film business. He said, "These are part of life. When you step into business, such things keep happening. I don’t even know why, how, or from where this has come. But I think it is a legal matter, so let the legal people handle it. There is a lawyer on their side, and a lawyer from here will respond too."

He further added, "I don’t think it has any meaning. Anyone can say anything about anything at any time. So it’s not something to be taken too seriously. It’s more for the lawyers to deal with. Since it’s a legal matter, I won’t speak much about it, but it’s nothing serious."

Eros International, in its suit, has claimed that it holds exclusive intellectual property rights over Raanjhanaa, including copyrights, trademarks, characters, dialogues, and any sequel or remake rights associated with the film. The company alleges that Tere Ishk Mein and its promotional material implied a direct creative connection to Raanjhanaa, which could mislead audiences into believing the newer film exists within the same narrative universe.

All about the lawsuit

The lawsuit reportedly points to similarities in character elements and references used during promotion, arguing that phrases suggesting a continuation or shared world amount to copyright infringement and passing off. Eros has sought substantial damages, stating that its rights were commercially exploited without authorisation.

The case has been filed in the Bombay High Court, with multiple parties named, including Rai’s production banner, Colour Yellow Media Entertainment LLP, and others associated with the project. The legal action has added an unexpected layer of controversy to Tere Ishk Mein, which stars Dhanush and Kriti Sanon and has been positioned as an intense, emotionally driven romantic drama.

Despite the ongoing legal battle, Rai has chosen not to engage in a war of words. His response reflects a preference to let the judicial process take its course, while he continues focusing on his creative work. As the case unfolds, the outcome could have wider implications for how films are marketed and how loosely or tightly filmmakers can reference past successes.