What’s Diwali without a little drama—and we don’t just mean on screen! Mahesh Manjrekar’s upcoming Marathi epic Punha Shivajiraje Bhosale is already making headlines—but this time, not for its teaser or star cast. Nope, the firecrackers are going off in the legal zone.
In case you missed it, Everest Entertainment recently published a very public notice laying claim over the rights to the beloved 2009 cult classic Mi Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy. The timing? Right after Manjrekar dropped the teaser of Punha Shivajiraje Bhosale. Coincidence? We think not.
But wait—this story’s just heating up. The makers of Punha Shivajiraje aren’t sitting quiet. In fact, they’ve fired back with a public notice of their own, calling Everest’s claims… well, let’s just say—false, misleading, and totally without basis.
The IP Battle Begins
Let’s rewind a bit.
Back in late June, Everest Entertainment threw down the gauntlet by publishing a notice in Complete Cinema magazine. Their message? That they hold the rights to Mi Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy, and anyone doing business with Manjrekar or his team regarding anything related to the film better think twice.
Naturally, this raised a lot of eyebrows—especially since Punha Shivajiraje Bhosale is widely seen as a spiritual sequel to the original film.
But here’s the twist in the tale…
Manjrekar & Team Fire Back
On July 7, advocate Manjit Singh Jolly, representing Mahesh Manjrekar, Rahul Sughand, and Rahul Puranik, issued a counter-notice in Film Information magazine. And trust us—it wasn’t pulling any punches.
In classic legal speak (with a healthy dose of sass), the notice ripped into Everest’s claims, calling the original notice:
“Blatantly false, misleading and without any reasonable basis in law and fact.”
Oof. That’s a bold one.
They didn’t stop there. The makers emphasized that Mahesh Manjrekar and his co-creators are “reputable, distinguished and esteemed” members of the film fraternity. Translation? We know what we’re doing—and we’re not here for drama unless it’s on screen.

What’s Really Going On?
From what we can gather, Everest Entertainment seems concerned that Punha Shivajiraje Bhosale may be riding on the success of the original film, to which they claim ownership rights. But Manjrekar and his team insist there’s no copyright infringement, no shady deals, and absolutely no intent to bypass any legal rights.
They even went as far as stating:
“My Clients severally and/or collectively have not infringed the rights of the Film.”
Their tone was clear—back off, or we go to court.
And yes, they ended the notice with the classic legal mic drop:
“This Notice is without prejudice to My Clients’ rights at law and equity.”
In short: This ain’t over.
The Bigger Picture
Now, for fans wondering if this legal back-and-forth might delay the release—Punha Shivajiraje Bhosale is still locked in for a Diwali release, and the team seems confident they’re on solid ground.
This legal wrangle also opens up a much-needed conversation in the Indian film industry: What counts as a sequel or a spiritual continuation? And who owns the right to tell a story inspired by a past narrative—especially when emotions and cultural identity are involved?
Manjrekar’s Mi Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy wasn’t just a film. It struck a chord. And Punha Shivajiraje aims to do just that again—with or without Everest’s blessing.
Our Take? Let the Film Speak
Look, courtroom clashes aren’t new in Bollywood (or Marathi cinema for that matter). But if there’s one thing we’ve learned—it’s that drama off screen can’t stop a film that truly connects with its audience.
And let’s be honest: when Mahesh Manjrekar takes the director’s chair, people watch. If the buzz around the teaser is anything to go by, fans are already hyped. So unless this legal battle turns into a full-blown court injunction (which, fingers crossed, it doesn’t), we’re expecting the film to roar into theatres this Diwali.