Mukesh Bhatt wins 'Aashiqui' legal battle, accuses Bhushan Kumar of 'Harming' the franchise

Mukesh Bhatt recently shared his thoughts on the legal battle to safeguard the beloved 'Aashiqui' franchise. The Delhi High Court has ruled that Bhushan Kumar's T-Series cannot use 'Aashiqui' as a movie title, following Mukesh Bhatt's concerns about the franchise's future.

In an interview with the Times of India, Mukesh Bhatt expressed his commitment to preserving the essence of 'Aashiqui.' He said, “I made Aashiqui 2 with the same values that I made the first one with. I have the experience of understanding what to do and what not to do. I’ve been in the business for 50 years which unfortunately Bhushan is not. He was not understanding the core values of what ‘Aashiqui’ should be and unintentionally he was doing more things to harm it than to do good for it. 

The idea is to protect the franchise.” Bhatt further elaborated, “I did what I did to protect the brand ‘Aashiqui’, not only for myself and Bhushan but people in general. ‘Aashiqui’ as a franchise belongs to the audience. If ‘Aashiqui’ dies, love dies, music dies. We are committed to protecting it for the audience for years to come. I did this because this was the only way there could be a stoppage for him to do further harm to the franchise because he was unintentionally doing damage to it.”

The legal dispute began when T-Series announced a film with a title similar to 'Aashiqui.' Mukesh Bhatt, representing Vishesh Films, took the matter to court, arguing that such usage could dilute the brand’s identity. Justice Sanjeev Narula agreed, noting that T-Series using the name could lead to confusion among the public and weaken the brand.

The original 'Aashiqui,' released in 1990, was a commercial hit. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by Gulshan Kumar, it starred Rahul Roy, Anu Aggarwal, and Deepak Tijori. The film’s success established 'Aashiqui' as a significant name in Indian cinema.

In 2013, a sequel, 'Aashiqui 2,' was directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Bhatt, featuring Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor. This film was also highly successful and marked a significant breakthrough for its lead actors. With 'Aashiqui 3' in the pipeline, rumors suggest Kartik Aaryan might star in the next installment.

Mukesh Bhatt's efforts reflect his dedication to maintaining the franchise's legacy and ensuring its continued success.