Ra.One producer to desposit one
crore in court
crore in court

Ahead of its Diwali release, Bollywood's costliest and much-awaited film Ra.One, starring superstar Shahrukh Khan, got a setback with the Bombay High court ruling prima facie that it was convinced that TV writer Yash Patnaik had copyright over the concept on which the movie was based.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Roshan Dalvi yesterday asked producer Gauri Khan to desposit Rs one crore in a day to ensure the film's release in theatres on October 26. The producer has agreed to abide by the court's directive.

Patnaik had moved the court, contending that he was the original copyright owner of the concept on which Ra.One is based. He had registered the concept with the Film writers Association in 2006.

In his petition, Patnaik sought a stay on the film's release till he got due credit for the concept by way of damages. He wanted 10 per cent of the film's profit if he was not given credit for the concept.

When the court said it was inclined to grant an interim stay on the film's release, the counsel for Khan agreed to desposit a demand draft of Rs one crore in court. The bench said the amount could be deposited in a day.

''It is an unfortunate part of the film industry that people use concepts developed by others and then do not want to pay or give them credit,'' the Judges observed.