The Bombay High Court has given the green light for the Hindi film Bandar to be released on online streaming platforms, contingent upon the inclusion of disclaimers. This decision was rendered by Justice Abhay Ahuja on August 27, following a legal suit filed by a rape survivor who alleged that the film, directed by Anurag Kashyap, exploited her traumatic personal experiences for commercial gain.
In the case titled XYZ v. Karan Oberoi & Ors., the court considered joint submissions from both parties, which stipulated that disclaimer cards in both English and Hindi would be displayed at the beginning of the film’s digital streaming. With these measures in place, Justice Ahuja permitted the film’s release on OTT platforms on the scheduled date of August 28, following its theatrical debut in June.
The legal action was initiated by a rape survivor who filed an urgent civil suit seeking ₹2,600 crore in damages from the film’s producers, actors, and distributors. She also sought a permanent injunction to prevent the release of the film under its Hindi title, Bandar. The plaintiff alleged that actor Karan Oberoi, against whom she had filed a rape complaint in May 2019, was portrayed in the film in a manner that closely mirrored her personal life, without her consent. She identified nineteen specific parallels between her real-life experiences and the film’s narrative, claiming that the portrayal was designed to cast her in an unfavorable light.
On the other hand, Saffron Magicworks, the production company behind the film, argued that Bandar is a fictionalized account intended to highlight broader issues within the criminal justice system. The producers further noted that the film, which had a production budget exceeding ₹25 crore, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 and was released in Indian theaters in June 2026.
Justice Ahuja, after reviewing the case, declined to impose a stay on the film’s release on August 24, emphasizing that its theatrical run was already complete. He instructed the plaintiff to pinpoint specific scenes she found objectionable for further court review. In response, the producers agreed to include disclaimers, which the plaintiff accepted.
The court accepted these undertakings and officially approved the film’s OTT release. Legal representation for the plaintiff was provided by advocates Rajiv Singh, Sufiya Khan, and Mansha Bhatia. Advocates Yash Joglekar and Kajal S represented actor Karan Oberoi. Advocates Hiren Kamod, Kunal Parekh, and Nirali Atha, briefed by Dua Associates, appeared for Zee Entertainment. Senior advocate Ashish Kamat, along with advocates Rashmin Khandekar, Anand Mohan, Ameet Naik, Madhu Godadia, Amruta T, Siddharth Shah, and Kunal, briefed by Anand and Naik, represented Saffron Magicworks.
