The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the producers of Mastiii 4 after a content creator alleged that a comedy scene was copied from his viral Instagram reel. The court will hear the matter on January 13, 2026, just days before the film’s expected OTT release.
New Delhi: The Hindi comedy film Mastiii 4 has landed in legal trouble after popular content creator Ashish Sharma moved the Delhi High Court, alleging that one of the film’s comedy scenes is copied from his viral Instagram reel.
As reported by Live Law, Ashish Sharma told the court that a particular sequence in the film is very similar to his reel titled “Shaq Karne Ka Nateeja”, which he uploaded in January 2024. The reel had gained massive popularity online and crossed more than 11 million views.
In his petition, Sharma claimed that the core idea, the flow of the story, the way the characters behave, and even the final punchline in the movie scene are almost the same as his original content. He argued that this amounts to unauthorised use of his creative work without his consent or credit.
In his plea before the High Court, Ashish Sharma has asked for a permanent injunction against the makers, financial compensation, and a complete disclosure of the profits earned from the film.
He stated that his content was used without any permission or acknowledgement, which has caused him both creative and monetary loss. The case has gained urgency because the film is reportedly close to its digital or OTT release.
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The matter was heard by Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, who took note of the film’s release schedule while considering the request for urgent relief. The court issued notice to the producers of the film and observed that they must be given a fair chance to place their reply on record before any interim order is passed.
The judge said that issuing a short notice was appropriate in the present situation. The case is now likely to be heard next on January 13, 2026.
Mastiii 4 was released in theatres on November 21, 2025, but received a mixed response from audiences. As per Sacnilk, the film earned around Rs 19.25 crore worldwide at the box office, which is considered modest for a franchise film.
The legal development has come just days before the movie’s expected digital premiere on January 16, adding pressure on the makers.
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The film brings back the original trio of Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi, and Aftab Shivdasani, and also features Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri, Elnaaz Norouzi, Ruhi Singh, Shreya Sharma, and Shaad Randhawa.
Produced by Ekta Kapoor, A Jhunhunwala, and Indra Kumar, the Masti franchise has earlier tasted success with films like Grand Masti and Great Grand Masti. With the plagiarism claim now before the court, the outcome of the case could have a significant impact on the film’s OTT release and future of the franchise.
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