SRK wins plagiarism case

Allegations of plagiarism by writers of Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi thrown out Shah Rukh Khan’s television production house Red Chillies Idiot Box’s sitcom Ghar Ki Baat Hai, which was aired on January 30 on NDTV Imagine, has won the case filed against them.

The petition was filed by Neha Joshi, daughter of Sharad Joshi, who had penned the 1984 comedy show Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi - a serial that was the inspiration in the making of Ghar Ki Baat Hai.

Shah Rukh Khan had mentioned earlier, “Ghar Ki Baat Hai is a tribute to Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi.” The petition filed was against Shah Rukh Khan’s company Red Chillies Idiot Box, NDTV Imagine and the Oberois (who produced Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi) for copying the show without prior permission. However, Red Chillies, NDTV and the Oberois have won the case.

Bhavana Sresth, creative director, Ghar Ki Baat Hai, says, “The petition filed by Neha Joshi was irrelevant because the official contract of Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi was with the producers - the Oberois - from whom we had already taken permission, there were no copyright violations. Hence, the petition has been nullified.”