Pune: The District and Sessions Court in Pune has issued summons to acclaimed filmmaker Nagraj Manjule, along with producer Jyoti Deshpande, Jio Studios, and Atpat Productions, in response to a copyright lawsuit over the story rights of an upcoming biopic on wrestler Khashaba Jadhav.

The suit, filed by writer Prof. Sanjay Dudhaney, claims that while he holds the original story rights, Manjule made an unauthorized agreement with Khashaba Jadhav’s son, Ranjit Jadhav, leading to the legal dispute.

The complaint, filed by Dudhaney through Advocates Ravindra Shinde and Suvarna Shinde, requests a halt on the film’s production and release.

The court, acknowledging the complaint, has directed Manjule and the other defendants to appear and present their defense. The next hearing is set for December 6.

Dispute Over Story Rights

The conflict centers on Dudhaney’s claim of copyright over the story, which he says forms the basis of the Khashaba Jadhav biopic. Dudhaney alleges that in 2019, Manjule entered an unauthorized contract with Ranjit Jadhav.

This came despite Ranjit Jadhav's 2013 public statement, made in a press conference in Karad, declaring that Sanjay Dudhaney held the story rights for a film on his father.

However, Ranjit Jadhav reportedly bypassed Dudhaney in the recent agreement with Manjule, creating a legal conflict. When attempts for an amicable resolution failed, Dudhaney sent a formal notice to Manjule on December 26, 2022.

Background on "Olympicveer Khashaba Jadhav"

"Olympicveer Khashaba Jadhav," authored by Sanjay Dudhaney, remains the first and only book dedicated to the life and achievements of the legendary wrestler.

The book, now in its 15th edition, was honored with the State Award for Best Sports Book in 2008. Additionally, excerpts from this work have been incorporated into Maharashtra’s school curriculum, featured in the 9th-grade syllabus since 2004 and the 6th-grade syllabus since 2015.