Sayani Gupta's Aasmani gets cleared of copyright infringement allegations by Screenwriters Association's DSC
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
Star Sayani Gupta has been granted a relief in a case involving her directorial debut, Aasmani. The movie has been cleared of copyright infringement allegations by the Screenwriters Association's Dispute Settlement Committee (DSC). The issue began after filmmaker Vinia Negi accused Gupta of copyright infringement and breach of trust. As per reports, Negi alleged that Aasmani was very similar to her unfinished documentary titled Prabha, and that both projects featured an elderly woman and a vintage car in the crux of the story.
Adding to this, Sayani Gupta reacted to the update and shared truth will always prevail. Statement from DSC On Sunday, a press statement opened up that after reviewing submissions and independent expert comparisons, the DSC found the two works shared only the underlying idea, while storytelling, character development, conflict, and story arc differ. The DSC noted that copyright protects expression, not ideas, especially where the complainant's work is a documentary based on a real person's publicly known life.
Meanwhile, The DSC also noted that the star has filed a separate defamation suit against the complainant, in which the court has ruled favourably in favour of Sayani Gupta. Since issues in that case overlap with the DSC complaint, the matter is now sub judice, barring the DSC from further adjudication. The proceedings have accordingly been concluded and the complaint closed at SWA's end, without prejudice to the legal rights and remedies available to either party.
Notably, Sayani reacted to this good news and shared, "As I had shared earlier, truth will always prevail. I had respected the process and am grateful that the truth has come out. It always does. This has been the most harrowing experience of my life. But as my grandmother would often quote Tagore and say: ‘Tomar potaka jaare dao, bohibare dao shokoti' (whoever you give your flag to bear, you also give them the strength to bear it)."
As per the latest buzz, Reported by Bollywood Hungama, Gupta’s plea shared that Negi had approached the Screenwriters Association (SWA) with a complaint in April 2026. Gupta's suit mentioned that while the proceedings were still pending, Negi allegedly circulated a “Statement of Support” on WhatsApp and social media seeking support from members of the movie industry. The suit also mentioned that the campaign received more than 250 signatures.
In further updates, Gupta also cited that the row had resulted in professional damage, including the withdrawal of Aasmani from the Indian Movie Festival of New Zealand (TIFFNZ).
On top of that, The Four More Shots star has now asked for ₹ 9 crores in damages. She has also demanded an unconditional apology and public retraction from Negi.
Santanu Das is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 5 years of experience, writing on films, pop culture and movie festivals. He has a keen interest in writing about South Asian independent films and has covered several movie festivals, including Sundance and CPH: Docx. He also brings a sharp perspective to the monthly column called The Fault in Our Stars, where he writes about a recent movie/series and what stops the ‘good’ from becoming ‘great’. A gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University, Santanu completed his postgraduate studies in English from Jadavpur University. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes-certified movie critic. When not watching films or in conversation with celebrities, Santanu can be found reading a book. Some of his favourite films are Aparajito, Ponyo and The Double Life of Veronique. His favourite books include The Corrections, The God of Small Things and A Room of One's Own. Santanu continues to write passionately about films and star culture. He brings a relatable, as well as critically informed, lens to entertainment and culture for a wide audience. Find him on LinkedIn: santanudasfilm Instagram: @santupecha Read More
Source: Hindustan Times