Madras High Court barred ISPs and cable operators from illegally streaming Dhurandhar 2 before release. Court noted risk of “irreparable injury” and granted interim relief till April 15.
The Madras High Court on Wednesday passed an important interim order to protect the upcoming Bollywood film Dhurandhar: The Revenge (Dhurandhar 2) from piracy before its official release.
Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy granted an ad interim injunction stopping internet service providers (ISPs) and cable TV operators from illegally broadcasting or streaming the movie before its scheduled release on March 19, 2026. The order came in a case filed by Reliance Industries Limited against BSNL and others.
The plea was filed by Reliance Industries Limited along with its media arm, Jio Studios, which is producing the film. The company approached the Court urgently, stating that there was a serious risk of copyright infringement. According to Reliance, several intermediaries, including telecom operators, ISPs, and cable TV providers, could illegally transmit or stream the film without proper authorization.
Dhurandhar: The Revenge is a Hindi-language spy action thriller directed by Aditya Dhar. The film stars Ranveer Singh in the lead role as an undercover operative dealing with crime and political networks. The movie also features actors like Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. It is a sequel to the 2025 blockbuster Dhurandhar.
During the hearing, Reliance presented the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate to establish that it is the official producer of the film. The company argued that without immediate court protection, piracy could cause serious financial and reputational damage, especially since the release date was very close.
The Court agreed that such situations require urgent intervention. It observed that if protection is not granted before release, it could lead to “irreparable injury” to the rights of the producers. At the same time, the Court also considered the interests of the respondents, such as ISPs and cable operators, whose business activities could be affected by such an order.
To strike a balance, the Court directed Reliance to compensate (indemnify) the respondents in case they suffer any loss due to the injunction. This condition ensures fairness while still protecting the film from piracy.
After considering all aspects, the Court granted an ad interim injunction restraining the respondents from unlawfully broadcasting or transmitting the film until April 15, 2026. The Court also issued notice to the respondents and scheduled the next hearing for April 15.
Reliance was represented in the matter by advocate T Pandian from PK Law Firm.
It is important to note that this is not the first time Reliance has approached the Court for protection of this film. In late February, the company had earlier filed a similar commercial suit seeking broad anti-piracy directions against telecom service providers, ISPs, and cable operators. However, that plea was later withdrawn.
This latest order highlights the growing concern of film producers over digital piracy and the increasing role of courts in protecting intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry.
Case Title:
Reliance Industries Limited Vs BSNL
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