BOLLYWOOD NEWS: Actor and filmmaker Sayani Gupta has reportedly filed a Rs 9 crore defamation suit before the Mumbai City Civil Court against filmmaker Vinita Negi over allegations concerning Gupta’s directorial debut, the short fiction film Aasmani. The case, titled Sayani Gupta v. Vinita Negi & Ors., also names Meta, Reddit and Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited as defendants.
An application seeking an urgent hearing and interim relief was expected to come up before Additional Sessions Judge Shudhirkumar Murlidharrao Bukke on September 3.
How The Aasmani Copyright Dispute Began
The controversy reportedly began after Vinita Negi, a Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) alumna, accused Sayani Gupta of copyright infringement and breach of trust.
Negi allegedly claimed that Aasmani had drawn substantially from her unfinished documentary Prabha. According to the allegations, both projects feature elements including an elderly woman and a vintage car.
Gupta has now strongly denied these claims in her legal plea. She has reportedly described the allegations as false, misleading, unsubstantiated and defamatory.
Sayani Gupta Argues Copyright Protects Expression, Not Generic Ideas
A central part of Gupta’s defence is the distinction between an underlying idea and its original expression.
According to her suit, the presence of broad or commonly used creative elements does not automatically establish copyright infringement. The plea reportedly argued that copyright law protects original expression rather than giving an individual exclusive rights over generic concepts or ideas.
The suit stated: “The mere presence of an elderly woman, a car, a driver or any other generic element in a creative work does not confer upon Negi a monopoly over such ideas or concepts.”
The argument places the focus of the dispute on whether there are substantial similarities in protected creative expression, rather than simply whether the two works contain some comparable elements.
Statement Of Support Allegedly Circulated On Social Media
According to Gupta’s plea, Negi approached the Screenwriters Association (SWA) with a complaint in April 2026. The proceedings were reportedly still pending when Negi allegedly circulated a “Statement of Support” through WhatsApp and social media, seeking support from members of the film fraternity.
Gupta’s suit claims that the campaign received more than 250 signatures.
The actor and filmmaker has alleged that the wider controversy caused professional and reputational harm. Her plea specifically claims that Aasmani was withdrawn from the Indian Film Festival of New Zealand (TIFFNZ) as a consequence of the dispute.
Sayani Gupta Seeks Rs 9 Crore In Damages
Gupta has reportedly sought Rs 9 crore in damages from the defendants. Her legal demands also include directions to Meta, Reddit and Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited to remove content that she alleges is defamatory.
In addition, she has sought an unconditional apology and public retraction from Negi.
The court proceedings will determine the legal merits of the competing claims. At this stage, the allegations made by either side should not be treated as established findings.
