Hailing the move of filing a civil suit against two media giants for sullying the image of Bollywood, industry insiders say it’s time to send out a message to media to behave responsibly

Anil Kapoor

In a world of swiftly moving events, the Hindi film industry, which seemed divided and divisive, has come together and knocked on the doors of Delhi High Court taking on two media giants for sullying the image of the industry.

A civil suit has been filed before Delhi High Court by four Bollywood industry associations and 34 leading production houses, praying that the court direct the news channel Republic TV, Arnab Goswami and Pradeep Bhandari of Republic TV, the news channel Times Now, Rahul Shivshankar and Navika Kumar of Times Now, and unknown defendants as well as social media platforms to refrain from making or publishing irresponsible, derogatory and defamatory remarks against the Hindi film industry as a whole and members of Bollywood.

The suit also sought to restrain the news channels from conducting media trials of Bollywood personalities and interfering with right to privacy of people associated with the film industry.

The plaintiffs also prayed that the defendants abide by the provisions of the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, and to withdraw, recall and take down all defamatory content published by them against Bollywood.

A move to showcase unity and to restore the reputation of the entertainment industry that's under scrutiny lately!

Need responsible journalism

Producer Rahul Mittra welcomes the move, “The industry should be united for causes that concern it. But I wish they had reached out to the other unions too to make a stronger statement.” Nobody is above the law. It should be responsible journalism, a balanced view not biased,” deems Mittra.

Enough of media trials

“Der aye, durast aye,” feels director, writer and producer Anees Bazmee. “If it takes the court to settle the things, let it be. Just for TRP the channels have maligned the industry, shown it in bad light. In any industry, it’s just 5 to 10 per cent who indulges in unlawful activities. To show every single person of the industry in the negative light is wrong.”

Does Bazmee worry that such a move can harm the promotional aspects of their films? “What good can these media houses do when they have done so much damage? In fact, I believe production houses should stop giving ads in such papers,” he says.

Bollywood is not a soft target

Screenwriter Kanika Dhillon shares her take, “I am glad that Bollywood has struck back. It was about time. Irresponsible journalism is damaging for a person’s career, psyche and dignity. Maligning an industry merely based on conjecture is totally unacceptable.” She sees the current developments as a right step, “It’s a good message to send out that there will be consequences if news channels indulge in false allegations or baseless vilification of people. Also that Bollywood should not be considered a soft target, for anyone who chooses to run a baseless campaign for personal agenda or publicity!”

A sad affair

BN Tiwari, president, Federation of Western India Cine Employees, was dejected over the recent portrayal. “One sure feels sad when the image of the very industry that gives you rozi roti is tarnished.” Actor Taranjit Kaur says, “The media targeting Bollywood is really sad. The entire industry cannot be brought down because of one or two incidents. It’s good that industry has united. It’s high time to call out the wrongdoings and ban the channels that are just rumour-mongering.” – TNS

United they stand

Almost all well-known names in Bollywood are represented through the plaintiffs, including Producers Guild of India, Cine & TV Artiste Association, Film and TV Producers Council, and Screenwriters Association. That apart, 34 production houses have also been represented. These are—Aamir Khan Productions, Ad-Labs Films, Ajay Devgn Fflims, Andolan Films, Anil Kapoor Film and Communication Network, Arbaaz Khan Productions, Ashutosh Gowarikaer Productions, BSK Network and Entertainment, Cape Of Good Films, Clean Slate Filmz, Dharma Productions, Emmay Entertainment and Motion Pictures, Excel Entertainment, Filmkraft Productions, Hope Production, Kabir Khan Films, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, One India Stories, R.S. Entertainment, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Pictures, Red Chillies Entertainment, Reliance Big Entertainment, Reel Life Productions, Rohit Shetty Pictures, Roy Kapur Productions, Salman Khan Ventures, Sohail Khan Productions, Sikhya Entertianment, Tiger Baby Digital, Vinod Chopra Films, Vishal Bhardwaj Film, Yash Raj Films. —IANS

#BollywoodStrikesBack

Celebrities took to Twitter to share their views on the news of top production houses filling a joint suit at Delhi High Court against media trials and fake news

Siddhartha Basu

Outstanding show of unity by a chaotic & flawed but hard-working, ultra high-risk industry, taking a stand against a motivated onslaught of hysterical mudslingers, poisonous propagandists & their blind believers, who have scant regard for facts or truth.

Simi Garewal

#BollywoodStrikesBack About time too! These news media channels had crossed all limits. Using stars and abusing them for TRPs! Why should it be tolerated?

Ram Gopal Varma

Reaction of Bollywood is too late and too thanda ..All top film people complaining to Delhi high court is amounting to a school kid telling the teacher “Teacher, Teacher, wo Arnab mujhe gaali de raha hai”

Ranvir Shorey

I welcome this lawsuit. It will encourage responsible reporting by news TV channels, which is desperately the need of the hour. I have said this repeatedly, Bollywood may have its issues, but they pale in comparison to what news media has become. That’s where the real cleaning needs to happen. #CleanupNewsMedia #BollywoodStrikesBack

Swara Bhasker

Breaking - Bollywood hits back with a suit in Delhi High Court seeking to restrain Republic, Times Now from making derogatory remarks… Yaaaaaaassssssss!!!!