The Bombay High Court’s vacation bench, led by Justice Farhan P. Dubash, recently declined to issue a stay on the release of the Hindi film ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’, amidst accusations of copyright infringement concerning two songs featured in the movie. The court’s decision came on Thursday after Puja Entertainment India Ltd (formerly Puja Films) sought to halt the film’s release due to the inclusion of the songs ‘Chunnari Chunnari’ and ‘Ishq Sona Hai’ from the 1999 film ‘Biwi No.1’.
Justice Dubash expressed that the court was not inclined to grant the urgent relief requested by Puja Entertainment, stating, “This Court is not inclined to entertain the urgent application of Puja films which seeks reliefs against the said cinematographic film and the two songs.” Consequently, the matter has been scheduled for further hearing on June 8.
Puja Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against Tips Industries, also known as Tips Music Ltd, alleging unauthorized use and exploitation of the aforementioned songs in the upcoming film. The company is seeking damages totaling approximately ₹400 crore, along with extensive injunctive reliefs.
In their urgent application, Puja Entertainment requested a stay on the film’s release, as well as the promotional materials featuring the contested songs, ahead of the planned release date of June 5. However, Justice Dubash pointed out that Puja Entertainment had already initiated legal proceedings in a Bihar civil court back in April 2026, seeking similar reliefs for the same film and songs.
Previously, on May 6, the Bihar court had issued an ex-parte urgent ‘status quo’ order, which was later upheld by the Patna High Court, only to be stayed by the Supreme Court on May 22. It was noted by Justice Dubash that while Puja Entertainment had applied to withdraw the Bihar suit, with the intention to approach the Bombay High Court, no orders had been issued regarding that application.
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Representatives for Tips Industries accused Puja Entertainment of forum shopping, emphasizing the lack of justification for the delay in approaching the Bombay High Court despite being aware of the film’s scheduled release since November 2025.
In light of these circumstances, the High Court concluded that it would not entertain the plea to obstruct the film’s release and its associated songs.
Representing Puja Entertainment was Advocate Neha Bhavsar, while Senior Advocate Ravi Kadam, alongside Advocates Hiren Kamod, Rohan Kadam, Ayaz Bilawala, and Dhanashree Gaikaiwari, briefed by Bilawala & Co., appeared for Tips Industries. Additionally, Senior Advocate Ashish Kamat, with Advocates Ameet Naik, Madhu Gadodia, Vivek Dwivedi, Jasmeet Kaur, and Fatima Ali, briefed by Anand & Naik Co., represented director David Dhawan.
