Saurav Ganguly Sues Over 'Doosra' Movie for Unauthorized Use of Lord's Celebration Image

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Published 22 October 2026

Statutes: Specific legislation not cited in summary, but generally covered under common law and intellectual property principles.
Source: Bar & Bench

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF)

Saurav Ganguly has moved the Delhi High Court seeking to restrain the release of the movie 'Doosra', alleging unauthorized use of his iconic shirtless celebration at Lord's. The petition claims infringement of personality rights and seeks damages, highlighting the need for consent for commercial exploitation of a public figure's image.

Ratio Decidendi · Legal Principle Established

The core legal principle invoked is the protection of personality rights, which grants individuals, particularly public figures, the exclusive right to control the commercial use of their name, image, and other identifiable attributes. Unauthorized exploitation for commercial gain constitutes an infringement.

Practice & Procedural Impact for Advocates

Advocates must ensure explicit consent and proper licensing agreements are in place when using the likeness or identifiable actions of public figures in commercial ventures. Litigants, especially filmmakers and advertisers, face potential injunctions and significant damage claims if they fail to secure such rights.

Key Legal Takeaways

1Personality rights protect public figures from unauthorized commercial exploitation of their image.
2Filmmakers and content creators must obtain consent for using identifiable attributes of individuals.
3Infringement of personality rights can lead to injunctions and claims for damages.

The Legal Issue Saurav Ganguly, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, has approached the Delhi High Court to prevent the release of the movie 'Doosra'. The essence of his legal challenge revolves around the alleged unauthorized use of his iconic shirtless celebration at Lord's Cricket Ground, a moment deeply associated with his public persona. Ganguly contends that the filmmakers have exploited his image and personality rights for commercial purposes without his consent, thereby infringing upon his exclusive right to control the commercial use of his identity.

Court's Reasoning While the Delhi High Court's full reasoning is yet to be delivered as the matter is ongoing, the legal premise for Ganguly's petition rests on the well-established common law principle of personality rights. This right grants individuals, especially public figures, the exclusive authority to control the commercial exploitation of their name, image, voice, and other identifiable attributes. The argument is that any unauthorized use for commercial gain, such as in a feature film, constitutes an infringement of these rights, entitling the aggrieved party to seek injunctive relief and damages. The court will likely examine whether the depiction in the movie directly references or exploits Ganguly's specific identifiable moment without due authorization.

Why It Matters This case holds significant implications for the entertainment industry, particularly for biopics and films that draw inspiration from real-life events and public figures. It underscores the critical importance of securing proper consent and licensing agreements when incorporating the likeness, actions, or identifiable moments of individuals into commercial productions. For advocates, it highlights the robust protection afforded to personality rights and the potential for substantial legal challenges, including injunctions and claims for damages, if these rights are disregarded. The outcome will further clarify the boundaries of creative freedom versus individual rights in the context of commercial exploitation of public figures' identities.