India

19th October, 2026 – King Stubb and Kasiva (KSK) has secured a significant order from the Bombay High Court on behalf of its client, AND Movie Productions LLP (“Petitioner”), in a dispute with co-producer Echelon Productions and its Partners (“Respondents”) concerning the Hindi-language cinematograph film Tu Hai Meri Kiran, starring Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal, which is scheduled for theatrical release on 23rd October 2026. Passing the order on 19th October 2026 in Commercial Arbitration Petition (L) No. 34544 of 2026, filed under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amit Borkar substantially allowed the petition. The Court has directed Echelon Productions to deposit INR 8.85 Crores in Court, together with interest at 15% per annum calculated from the respective dates on which the Petitioner paid its investment, within 3 (three) working days as security for the Petitioner’s claim. Until the deposit is made, the Respondents stand restrained from releasing or commercially exploiting the film through theatrical, satellite, digital, OTT, music or any other mode. Once the deposit is made, the theatrical release may proceed, subject to compliance with the Court’s remaining directions and the Co-Production Agreement. The Court held that the Petitioner had made out a strong prima facie case for securing the amount in dispute. Reading the Co-Production Agreement as a whole, it rejected the contention that repayment could arise only after the film earned revenue, and held that the obligation to return the investment had fallen due on 27th April 2025 under Clause 5.3 of the Agreement. The Court also found that the Respondents had not established that the cheque for INR 7.50 Crores issued on 1st January 2026, which was dishonoured, had been issued merely as security. Significantly, the Court ruled that the Petitioner’s participation in Instagram promotions for the film did not amount to a waiver of the overdue repayment obligation, nor did it constitute consent to third-party exploitation agreements being signed without the Petitioner being made a confirming party. The Court also clarified that the Respondents cannot treat that participation as a general permission to disregard the agreed producer credits. In addition to securing the deposit, the Court directed the Respondents to disclose on affidavit within 5 (five) working days all executed and proposed agreements, offers, term sheets and production agreements relating to the film, along with all amounts received or receivable under each arrangement. The Court also directed that the Respondents shall not enter into any agreements for exploitation of the film without making the Petitioner a confirming party and obtaining its prior consent. Additionally, the Court directed the Respondents to deposit all revenues generated from exploitation of the film into a separate designated account, with regular statements to the Petitioner, and not to divert or withdraw any amount in a manner contrary to the terms of the Co-Production Agreement. Lastly, the Court directed the Respondents to correct or withdraw, within 48 hours, any publicity materials that do not carry the agreed producer credits for the Petitioner. The Respondents’ request for a stay of the order was also rejected by the Court. The Court has made clear that its findings are prima facie and for the purpose of interim relief only, and that questions of final liability, accounts, interest and the parties’ rights in the film are left open for determination in arbitration. The order underscores that the Court will protect a co-producer’s investment and contractual rights, including consent, confirming-party status and agreed credits, before the release of a film. The KSK TeamKSK’s team advising on the matter comprised: Mr. Arpit Choudhary, Partner Mr. Krunal Mehta, Associate Partner Ms. Karen Koya, Associate This order is a significant outcome for KSK’s Media & Entertainment practice, reflecting the firm’s ability to secure urgent, commercially balanced relief in high-value film co-production disputes on the eve of release.

Court grants interim injunction against unauthorised recording, reproduction and distribution of the film Chennai, 15 October 2026: King Stubb & Kasiva, Advocates and Attorneys (KSK), acting for Mythri Movie Makers, has secured an interim injunction from the Hon’ble Madras High Court (Commercial Division) in C.S. (Comm. Div.) No. 288 of 2026, protecting the upcoming film RANABAALI against anticipated unauthorised recording, reproduction and distribution. By a common order dated 15 October 2026, the Hon’ble Mr. Justice P.B. Balaji allowed O.A. Nos. 1144, 1145, 1146 and 1147 of 2026, one day before the scheduled theatrical release of the film on 16 October 2026. RANABAALI, directed by Rahul Sankrityan and starring Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna, Arnold Vosloo and Luke McGibney, is produced by Mythri Movie Makers. The proceedings were instituted as a John Doe action, with Mythri Movie Makers approaching the Court on the apprehension that unidentified persons and other respondents may illegally record, reproduce and distribute the film. The Plaintiff submitted that such unauthorised exploitation would cause irreparable loss and hardship. The Plaintiff also stated that it had not granted any assignment or licence to the respondents for telecast of the film on any website. The proceedings covered multiple categories of respondents, including internet service providers, cable operators, digital platforms and unidentified persons described as Ashok Kumar/John Doe. The respondents named in the proceedings include X Corp, YouTube LLC, Google India Private Limited, Facebook India Online Services Private Limited, Meta Platforms Inc. and Telegram FZ-LLC, along with 35 internet service providers and five cable operators. The Court, after considering the application, recorded that the Plaintiff had a prima facie case for grant of interim injunction. The Court accordingly allowed all four applications. Notice to the respondents has been made returnable on 11 November 2026, with private notice also permitted. The order provides urgent judicial protection to the film in the critical period immediately preceding its theatrical release, including against the apprehended unauthorised recording, reproduction and distribution of the film. The KSK Team Mythri Movie Makers was represented by a King Stubb & Kasiva team led by Rahul Mehta and Navod Prasannan (Partners), with Amal Goenka (Associate Partner), Rahul Balakrishnan (Senior Associate) and Dhakshin Kumar (Senior Associate). Navod Prasannan appeared and argued the matter before the Court. Note: This release is based on the common order dated 15 October 2026. The order is an interim order and the proceedings remain pending before the Hon’ble Court.

Bengaluru Court directs removal and de-indexing of identified content and preservation of electronic records ahead of the film’s theatrical release Bengaluru, 15 October 2026: King Stubb & Kasiva, Advocates and Attorneys (KSK), acting for Mythri Movie Makers, has secured an ex parte ad-interim temporary injunction from the Court of the XLIII Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru (CCH-44), in O.S. No. 7696 of 2026, Mythri Movie Makers v. X Corp & Ors., concerning false and defamatory online content relating to the producer and its upcoming film RANABAALI. The order was passed on 14 October 2026, two days before the worldwide theatrical release of RANABAALI on 16 October 2026. RANABAALI, directed by Rahul Sankrityan and starring Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna, Arnold Vosloo and Luke McGibney, is produced by Mythri Movie Makers. The proceedings arose from certain online comments and electronic material which the Plaintiff alleged to be false and defamatory and which were identified in the schedule to the suit. The Plaintiff approached the Court seeking urgent interim protection against the continued hosting, publication, uploading, transmission, circulation, communication, reproduction, republication or other dissemination of the impugned content. Upon considering the plaint, documents and the affidavit filed in support of the interim application, the Court held that the Plaintiff had made out a prima facie case for grant of an ex parte temporary injunction and that the balance of convenience lay in favour of the Plaintiff. The Court further observed that issuance of notice at that stage would cause delay and defeat the purpose of the suit. Accordingly, the Court restrained the Defendants from facilitating the dissemination of the impugned content and from continuing to host, publish, upload, transmit, circulate, communicate, reproduce, republish or otherwise make available the false and defamatory content concerning the Plaintiff and/or the cinematograph film RANABAALI identified in the schedule to the application. The Court further directed Defendants 1 to 7 to forthwith disable access to, remove and/or de-index the comments, URLs and electronic material specifically identified in the schedule, and to take responsible steps to prevent the immediate republication of the same or substantially identical false and defamatory content through their respective platforms. The order also requires preservation of available electronic records, account information, IP logs, metadata and other relevant data relating to the comments, URLs, accounts and uploads, for production before the Court and identification of the persons responsible, pending disposal of the suit. The matter is next listed on 06.11.2026, by which date emergent notice and suit summons are to issue to the Defendants. The KSK Team Mythri Movie Makers was represented by a King Stubb & Kasiva team led by Rahul Mehta and Navod Prasannan (Partners), with Amal Goenka (Associate Partner), Rahul Balakrishnan (Senior Associate), Dhakshin Kumar (Senior Associate), Akalya Ravichandran (Senior Associate), Dhwani Vora (Associate), Note: This release is based on the interim order dated 14 October 2026. The order is an interim order and the proceedings remain pending before the Hon’ble Court.

We are pleased to share that Argus Partners has advised the Hightekers Group, the global work infrastructure group behind Rivermate, on the acquisition of 100% shareholding of Remunance Services Private Limited from its existing shareholders. Remunance is a well-established Employer of Record (EOR) and workforce solutions platform headquartered in Pune. The transaction marks a significant step in the Hightekers Group's global expansion strategy. The acquisition gives Hightekers its own established employing entity in India, one of the world’s largest hiring markets. Argus Partners advised Hightekers on all aspects of the transaction, including structuring, group’s entry into India as a first-time investor, and the transaction documentation. The Argus Partners transaction team advising the Hightekers Group consisted of Ankur Arora (Partner), Aishwarya Satpathy (Senior Associate), and Aakriti Garodia, Milind Anand, Samia Haider  (Associates).