Mumbai: The Bombay high court has directed filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma to deposit Rs 6.2 lakhs, which is due to scriptwriter Nilesh Girkar within 15 days. Mr Girkar, who scripted the upcoming Amitabh Bachchan starrer Sarkar 3, moved a notice of motion in a copyright violation suit in the Bombay high court praying for being credited properly in the movie as well as protect his financial dues as the film is set to release on April 7.
The amount Mr Varma has to deposit is the balance of the total amount decided upon between Mr Girkar and Mr Varma for writing the script of the movie.
Mr Girkar, who is a part of RGV’s team and has also penned the scripts for some of his other films like Ab Tak Chappan 2 and Department, approached the high court on January 30 seeking specific relief under Copyright Act. The suit was against Mr Varma and his company RGV Film Factory limited as well as Amitabh Bachchan and his company Amitabh Bachchan Corporation and three others. However, even before the suit could come up for hearing, Mr Girkar through his advocate Rahul Ajatshatru moved a notice of motion.
“As the film is getting released on April 7, Mr Girkar sought to get proper credit in the film and also protection of the money aspect, following which the court directed Mr Varma to deposit the balance amount in court,” said Mr Ajatshatru.
According to sources, as per an understanding Mr Girkar had written the script and given it to Mr Varma in 2012 on the condition that he would be compensated with a fixed amount when shooting for the film started. However Mr Varma did not pay the entire amount, which caused Mr Girkar to fear losses in terms of paternity rights too, following which he filed the suit.
As per the order passed by the single bench of Justice G.S. Patel in the notice of motion, Mr Varma has to deposit Rs 6.2 lakh with the Prothonotary and Senior Master within two weeks of the order. “…The Plaintiff’s claim is thus sufficiently covered by this deposit. No further ad-interim reliefs are necessary. All contentions are kept open,” the order said directing Mr Varma to file a reply by February 24 and Mr Girkar to file a rejoinder to the reply by March 17.
The notice of motion has been kept for hearing and final disposal on March 29.
