2 News Channels Sued For Calling Bollywood “Druggies & Scum”

New Delhi, India: Bollywood’s leading filmmakers has filed a defamation lawsuit in New Delhi’s High Court against the “irresponsible reporting by certain media houses” over the extreme usage of “derogatory words and expression for Bollywood” in connection with the investigation case of Sushant Singh Rajput death.

Some of the big names of Bollywood including, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Karan Johar, Aditya Chopra and Farhan Akhtar and many other have confluence together in the legal action against 2 news channels – “Republic TV and Times Now.”

The lawsuit was filed against Republic TVS “Arnab Goswami and Pradeep Bhandari & Times Now’s Rahul Shivshankar and Navika Kukmar.”

Producers Guild of India, the Cine and TV Artiste Association, Ad-Labs Films, Ajay Devgn Fflims, Anil Kapoor Film and Communication Network, Arbaaz Khan Productions, Ashutosh Gowarikaer Productions, Excel Entertainment, Kabir Khan Films, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Pictures, Reliance Big Entertainment, Rohit Shetty Pictures, Roy Kapur Productions, Vinod Chopra Films and Vishal Bhardwaj Films are some of the filmmakers who also filed case against news channels.

The filmmakers have also complained about the usage of vexing expressions like –

• It is Bollywood where the dirt needs to be cleaned.
• All the perfumes of Arabia cannot take away the stench and the stink of this filth and scum of the underbelly of Bollywood.
• This is the dirtiest industry in the country.
• And Cocaine and LSD-drenched Bollywood.

All these statements were used by the news channels over the drugs connection of Bollywood stars in Sushant Singh Rajput death case. The phone chats revealed the usage of drugs in Bollywood by certain actors. The drugs subject caused a searing of media trials on news channels with the usage of extreme language by the news anchors.

The filmmakers said, “The news channels as well as social media platforms must refrain from making or publishing irresponsible, derogatory and defamatory remarks against Bollywood and its members.”

They added, “distinct and well-recognised class that is a huge source of revenue, foreign exchange and employment.”

The lawsuit said, “The film industry is dependent almost solely on goodwill, appreciation and the acceptance of its audience.”

The filmmakers also want the news channels to immediately cease the media trials and the infringement they have doing upon the privacy of the Bollywood filmmakers. They also want news channels to immediately “withdraw, recall and take down all the defamatory content published by them against Bollywood.”

They further said, “”The livelihood of persons associated with Bollywood is being severely impacted by the smear campaign being run by the defendants. This is in addition to the ongoing pandemic which has resulted in extreme revenues and work opportunity loss. The privacy of the members of Bollywood is being invaded, and their reputations are being irreparably damaged by painting the entire Bollywood as criminals seeped in drug culture and making being part of Bollywood as synonymous with criminal acts in the public imagination.”

In response to the lawsuit case, Times Now’s Editor-in-Chief Rahul Shivshankar tweeted, “Cases against journalists of Times Now that have only sought justice for those who are wronged are a bad precedent. The mighty may think they can weaken the resolve of the fearless but they are wrong.”

The Bollywood said on the ongoing media trials, “These defendants are conducting and publishing parallel private ‘investigations’ and effectively acting as ‘courts’ to condemn persons connected with Bollywood as guilty based on what they claim is ‘evidence’ found by them, thereby trying to make a mockery of the criminal justice system.”