Prosenjit Chatterjee Wishes Success for Doosra Amid Sourav Ganguly Legal Dispute
Bengali cinema star Prosenjit Chatterjee has reportedly extended his best wishes to Doosra, a Hindi sports drama that has attracted attention amid a legal dispute involving former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly. The film draws inspiration from a memorable moment in Indian cricket history: Ganguly’s celebration following India’s victory over England in the 2002 NatWest Series final at Lord’s.
The film’s release has become a subject of legal debate after Ganguly and production company Luv Films LLP approached the Delhi High Court. They alleged that the film’s use of material associated with the former cricketer’s identity and career infringed his personality rights and the production company’s contractual rights over an authorised biographical film.
The Delhi High Court declined to stop Doosra’s scheduled theatrical release on October 23, 2026. The decision allowed the film to proceed with its planned release, while the broader legal dispute remained unresolved. <Cite refs={["turn439360search1","turn439360search7","turn439360search4"]}/>
Why Sourav Ganguly Challenged Doosra
Ganguly and Luv Films LLP filed a case seeking to restrain the release and promotional distribution of Doosra. Their petition alleged that the film used Ganguly’s name, image, likeness and iconic cricketing moments without the required authorisation.
A central issue in the dispute is the use of references to the 2002 NatWest Series final, when India defeated England at Lord’s. Ganguly’s shirtless celebration on the Lord’s balcony became one of the most widely remembered moments in Indian cricket.
According to reports on the court proceedings, Ganguly’s legal team argued that the film’s promotional campaign drew heavily on his identity and cricketing achievements. The petition also raised concerns about the commercial implications of the film, particularly because Luv Films is developing an authorised biopic about the former India captain.
The proposed biopic, titled Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story, is reported to be scheduled for release on May 14, 2027. Luv Films contends that its contractual arrangement with Ganguly gives it exclusive rights to develop and commercially exploit audiovisual content based on his life and cricket career. <Cite refs={["turn439360search1","turn439360search3","turn439360search6"]}/>
What the Filmmakers Said
The filmmakers disputed the allegations and argued that Doosra is not a biographical film about Ganguly. Their position, as reported in court coverage, is that the story centres on a fictional young woman from Rajasthan who finds inspiration in sporting events associated with the former captain.
The film follows Tara, a young woman growing up in a conservative household. Inspired by Ganguly’s defiant celebration after the NatWest Series victory, she begins questioning the restrictions placed on her and seeks greater independence.
The filmmakers also argued that the necessary permission had been obtained to use certain cricket footage from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Their legal team maintained that the film’s story and its use of sports footage did not justify stopping its release.
These are competing arguments presented by the parties. The court’s refusal to grant an immediate stay does not amount to a final ruling on every claim concerning personality rights, copyright or contractual arrangements. <Cite refs={["turn439360search0","turn439360search7","turn439360search8"]}/>
Delhi High Court Allows the Release to Proceed
On October 22, the Delhi High Court declined to grant an immediate order stopping Doosra’s theatrical release. Justice Dinesh Bhatt observed during the proceedings that the balance of convenience did not appear to favour preventing the release at that stage.
The court noted the film’s imminent release and the arrangements already made by the producers and exhibitors. The filmmakers’ side told the court that screenings had been arranged at more than 100 theatres and that advance payments had been made.
The court’s decision allowed the planned release to proceed on October 23. However, the underlying legal questions remained open for further consideration.
The case has brought renewed attention to personality rights in the Indian entertainment industry. Public figures increasingly raise concerns about the commercial use of their names, likenesses and career milestones in films, advertisements and other media. Such disputes require courts to examine the specific facts, contractual arrangements and legal rights involved. <Cite refs={["turn439360search0","turn439360search1","turn439360search6"]}/>
What Is Doosra About?
Directed by Abhinay Deo, Doosra is a sports drama that uses a defining moment in Indian cricket as the starting point for a story about courage, independence and resistance to social expectations.
Rather than presenting itself as a straightforward biography of Ganguly, the film follows Tara and explores how a public sporting moment can inspire personal change. The 2002 NatWest Series final serves as an important backdrop, connecting the excitement of Indian cricket with the protagonist’s struggle to challenge the rules governing her life.
The film stars Plabita Borthakur, Ankur Vikal and Samidha Guru, among others. Its narrative focuses on a young woman who finds confidence through an example of defiance witnessed on television.
The film’s connection to Ganguly’s career has become a major point of public discussion because of the legal challenge. The dispute has also raised questions about the boundary between drawing inspiration from real events and commercially using a public figure’s identity. <Cite refs={["turn439360search3","turn439360search4","turn439360news10"]}/>
Prosenjit Chatterjee’s Reported Message of Support
Prosenjit Chatterjee is one of the prominent names in Bengali cinema, with a career spanning several decades. His reported wishes for Doosra come at a time when the film is receiving attention not only for its subject but also for the legal proceedings surrounding its release.
A message wishing a film success does not necessarily indicate a position on the legal dispute. Unless a direct statement is available, it should not be interpreted as an endorsement of either side’s legal arguments.
The reported message adds a film-industry angle to a story that has otherwise been dominated by the dispute between Ganguly, Luv Films and the makers of Doosra.
As the film enters theatres, audience response and further developments in court are likely to shape the next stage of its public discussion. Any subsequent legal decision should be reported separately from the film’s release and promotional activities.
What Happens Next?
Doosra was scheduled to release in cinemas on October 23, 2026, after the High Court declined to halt its theatrical debut. The legal dispute concerning the alleged use of Ganguly’s identity and the contractual rights associated with his proposed biopic remains a separate matter from the film’s release.
The eventual outcome will depend on the court’s assessment of the arguments, evidence and applicable law. Until a final decision is issued, the allegations made by Ganguly and Luv Films should be distinguished from the filmmakers’ response.
For audiences, Doosra offers a sports drama built around the wider influence of a memorable cricketing moment. For the film industry, the case highlights the importance of understanding personality rights, permissions for archival footage and contractual obligations when developing stories inspired by real people.
