Queen 2 Legal War Linked to Singham Again

Phantom Studios India Private Limited initiated legal proceedings at the Bombay High Court against Jiostar India Private Limited and Trigger Happy Entertainment Private Limited on July 4, seeking to prevent the production of the film Queen Forever, also referred to as Queen 2. Phantom Studios asserts joint ownership of 50% of intellectual property rights in the 2014 film Queen, including sequel and derivative rights, based on agreements dating back to 2012 and 2022.

Interestingly, this dispute over Queen 2 shares a connection with the upcoming film Singham Again. Phantom Films, the original producer of Queen, was founded in 2011 by Vikas Bahl, Vikramaditya Motwane, Anurag Kashyap, and Madhu Mantena. In 2015, Reliance Entertainment acquired a 50% stake, reducing the founders' shares. Following a legal battle, Reliance transferred Phantom's assets to Sheetal Talwar and Madhu Mantena in 2022.

As of 2024, Sheetal Talwar's Vistaar Group gained full ownership of Phantom Studios. This ownership structure is linked to Singham Again, as Phantom's acquisition of Reliance's film assets included an interest in the Singham franchise. Sheetal Talwar reportedly received a substantial payment for his stake in Singham Again, explaining the 'In association with' credit for his companies on the film.

The next hearing for the Queen 2 case is scheduled for August 4, as the legal dispute continues. The outcome could significantly impact the future of the Queen franchise and highlight complex intellectual property rights management in Bollywood.