Court Ruling Favors Karan Johar: ‘Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar’ Release Stopped

In a major legal victory for Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar, the Bombay High Court has ruled in his favor, barring the release of the film Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar. The court determined that the film used Johar’s name without his consent, which could damage his reputation and unfairly exploit his fame. (ALSO READ: Is Karan Johar on Drugs? Director Responds to Weight Loss Rumors and Ozempic Speculation)

The decision, announced on May 7, 2025, upholds an earlier order from March 7, 2025, which had initially halted the film’s release. Karan Johar had filed a case arguing that he had no connection with the film and had not permitted the use of his name.

A two-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Makarand Karnik, supported Johar’s claim, stating that the filmmakers appeared to be using his name and image to attract attention and generate profits without his approval.

The controversy began when the film’s title Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar and its promotional materials clearly referred to Johar, with characters named ‘Karan’ and ‘Johar’ portrayed as Bollywood directors—an obvious reference to the filmmaker. Justice Riyaz Chagla had previously pointed out that this was a direct attempt to link the film with Johar and benefit from his established brand value.

Karan Johar’s legal team argued that his name is a recognized brand in the Indian film industry, and the unauthorized use of his name by the filmmakers was misleading and illegal. They further emphasized that the trailers and posters of the film had already caused damage to his reputation.

The court sided with Johar, emphasizing that only he has the right to use his name for business purposes and that others cannot exploit it without his explicit approval. The court’s decision ensures that the film cannot be released under its current title, effectively protecting Johar’s brand and image.