Bollywood's Legal Drama: Vashu Bhagnani's Company Takes on Tips Industries Over Music Rights

A significant legal dispute has emerged in Bollywood as Vashu Bhagnani's Puja Entertainment has filed a Rs 400 crore lawsuit against Tips Industries over alleged unauthorized use of music from the classic film Biwi No 1 in the upcoming movie 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai'. The lawsuit claims that the songs 'Chunari Chunari' and 'Ishq Sona Hai' were used without proper authorization. The case is set to be heard soon in the Bombay High Court, raising questions about music rights in the film industry.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 29, 2026, 14:57 IST

Legal Battle Over Music Rights in Bollywood

A major legal dispute has erupted in the Bollywood industry as Puja Entertainment (India) Ltd, owned by producer Vashu Bhagnani, has reportedly filed a lawsuit worth Rs 400 crore in the Bombay High Court. The lawsuit targets Tips Industries Limited, Ramesh Taurani, Kumar S Taurani, and filmmaker David Dhawan, alleging unauthorized use of music from the 1999 hit film Biwi No 1 in the upcoming movie Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. This film, starring Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, and Pooja Hegde, is scheduled for a global release on June 5, 2026.

The crux of the dispute involves the songs Chunari Chunari and Ishq Sona Hai, which Puja Entertainment claims have been used in the new film without proper authorization. Reports indicate that the production company has accused the defendants of illegally utilizing these well-known tracks and their associated intellectual property without any valid license or rights to the original content.

According to reports, the lawsuit has been filed through the legal firm V K Dubey Associates, seeking immediate interim relief from the court. Puja Entertainment is requesting an injunction to stop the release, distribution, exhibition, streaming, and commercial use of the film and its promotional materials that include the disputed songs.

Additionally, the production house has asked the court to order the removal of Chunari Chunari and Ishq Sona Hai from the film, along with all related promotional activities. They have also requested that the filmmakers change the title Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, claiming it is linked to the allegedly infringing material and branding associated with the songs.

Furthermore, Puja Entertainment is seeking an additional Rs 100 crore in damages if the defendants fail to comply with their requests and continue to exploit the disputed works commercially. The production company argues that the alleged infringement undermines their proprietary and commercial rights related to Biwi No 1, one of the most successful Bollywood films from the late 1990s.

As per the official statement, the Bombay High Court has accepted the filing and is expected to hear the case soon. Counsel V K Dubey, representing Puja Entertainment, confirmed that the court has agreed to schedule a hearing in the near future.

Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is set to compete with Ram Charan's Peddi and Masters of the Universe upon its release. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has already viewed the film and granted it a U/A certificate ahead of its theatrical launch. The final approved runtime for the film is 2 hours and 16 minutes.