Parents of War Hero Approach Court Against Bollywood Film
The grieving parents of late Major Mohit Sharma, who was honored with both the Ashoka Chakra and Sena Medal for his bravery, have filed an urgent petition in the Delhi High Court seeking to stop the release of the upcoming Bollywood movie Dhurandhar starring Ranveer Singh.
The family alleges that the filmmakers have exploited the life, personality, and military service of the 1 Para (Special Forces) officer without obtaining consent from either the family or the Indian Army.
Unauthorized Portrayal of Military Operations
According to the legal plea, the movie appears to be directly inspired by Major Sharma's undercover operations and ultimate sacrifice for the nation. The petition specifically points out that key elements of his service - particularly his covert counter-terrorism missions in Kashmir - are clearly reflected in the film's trailer, promotional interviews, and media coverage.
Despite widespread public recognition connecting the film's character to Major Sharma, the filmmakers neither sought permission nor consulted the family before proceeding with the project.
The parents describe themselves as humble and grieving individuals who were deeply shaken to discover that the production team had used, portrayed, fictionalized, and commercially exploited their son's life without attempting to obtain proper consent.
Legal and National Security Concerns
The petition makes a powerful argument that a martyr should not be treated as a commercial commodity and that reconstructing a war hero's life requires truth, dignity, and proper authorization.
The legal challenge raises multiple serious concerns, including violation of the doctrine of posthumous dignity, infringement of the family's privacy and reputation under Article 21 of the Constitution, and breach of their son's personality rights.
Additionally, the petition highlights national security implications, noting that some of Major Sharma's missions remain classified in nature. The family's legal representatives have emphasized that depictions of military insignia, counter-terror operations, and Special Forces tactics require mandatory scrutiny and clearance from the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI), with no indication that such approvals were obtained.
The respondents named in the case include the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the ADGPI, director Aditya Dhar, and Jio Studios.
What the Family Seeks from Court
The petition requests a complete stay on the film's release, which is currently scheduled for December 5. The family has also asked for a private screening of the movie, production of the script and raw footage before the Court, and an immediate halt to all advertising and trailer dissemination.
Furthermore, the plea urges the Court to declare that any film based on the life of a real-life military martyr must carry prior authorization from both the legal heirs and the Indian Army.
The matter is expected to be listed for hearing next week, with the family being represented by advocates Roopenshu Pratap Singh and Manish Sharmaa of Samaanta Law Firm (SLF).
This case represents a significant legal challenge to the Bollywood industry's practice of creating films based on real-life military heroes without proper consent, potentially setting an important precedent for how the stories of national martyrs are treated in commercial entertainment.
