"they have taken my story and made Jugjugg Jeeyo."
Karan Johar and his Dharma Productions have landed in controversy after a writer claimed that his story idea was copied to make Jugjugg Jeeyo.
The film stars Anil Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Varun Dhawan and Kiara Advani, and is set to release on June 24, 2022.
Directed by Raj Mehta, the trailer was released.
But just hours after the trailer’s release, a writer named Vishal A Singh claimed that Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions copied his script, titled Bunny Rani, to make Jugjugg Jeeyo.
He also alleged that he registered his story with the Screenwriters Association of India in January 2020, a month before he pitched it to Dharma.
In a series of tweets, Vishal explained that he sent extracts of his script to Dharma for an opportunity to co-produce with them.
He said he received a reply but nothing went further.
Vishal said: “I had officially mailed @DharmaMovies in February 2020 for an opportunity to co-produce with them. I even got a reply from them.
“And they have taken my story and made Jugjugg Jeeyo. Not fair Karan Johar.
“Screenshot of my mail to @DharmaMovies dated 17.02.2020. An official complaint will follow.”
He then shared plot extracts of his story, which is about a middle-aged couple who decide to divorce after their children have married.
Meanwhile, Jugjugg Jeeyo has a similar storyline, featuring a middle-aged couple seeking divorce while their son wants to divorce his wife.
Screenshot of my mail to @DharmaMovies dated 17.02.2020.
An official complaint will follow.@karanjohar @somenmishra0 @jun6lee #JugJuggJeeyo#BunnyRani@Varun_dvn @AnilKapoor @raj_a_mehta pic.twitter.com/k7WV4kvK2a— Vishal A. Singh (@Vishal_FilmBuff) May 22, 2022
Vishal continued: “If you like the story, have a discussion, let us come together and make it together.
“It doesn’t suit any reputed banner or for that matter.. any production house to steal. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone in the Hindi cinema industry.”
Vishal went on to say that such issues are frequent in the industry.
“I’m aware that what happened with me is happening in the Hindi cinema industry all the time.
“That doesn’t mean I should shut up?
“I have chosen to raise the flag cos I want this malpractice to stop. This can’t go on forever.”
He added: “Being a member, I’m bound to register a complaint. If what am saying is wrong. @DharmaMovies should act strongly against me.
“And if am right, Dharma and Karan Johar should start the truth and reconciliation process.”
“If Hindi cinema has to prosper, serious issues can never operate in the grey zone. What do you think?”
Vishal also clarified that his allegations were not for publicity.
This is not the first time Jugjugg Jeeyo has been accused of plagiarism.
Pakistani singer Abrar-ul-Haq accused Dharma Productions of using his song ‘Nach Punjaban’ in Jugjugg Jeeyo “without acquiring rights”.
The singer had written: “I have not sold my song ‘Nach Punjaban’ to any Indian movie and reserve the rights to go to court to claim damages.
“Producers like Karan Johar should not use copied songs.
“This is my 6th song being copied, which will not be allowed at all.”
However, T-Series stated that it bought the rights to the song.
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