Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 13, 2014)

A leading soft drink company has sent a legal notice to the producers of Youngistaan, Vashu Bhagnani's Puja Films and Multi Screen Media (MSM), asking for a change in the title with immediate effect. The filmmakers have also been asked to withdraw all promotional materials. Their argument is that they have copyright over this title which they had coined years ago and around which several of their campaigns have revolved. Stars like Ranbir Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan have featured in these commercials.

A source close to the production house told Mirror that before the film rolled, the title had been legally acquired from the concerned film association. “So the eight-page letter threatening legal action which arrived a few days ago came as a rude shock. The legal team is discussing how to reply to the notice.” The beverage company is upset because they have spent a lot of money creating the brand name and cannot let someone else encash on it. Another grouse is that like their Yougistaan campaigns which target the youth, this film too has been designed to appeal to youngsters. Youngistan stars Jackky Bhagnani, Neha Sharma, Boman Irani and the late Farooque Shaikh. The love story set against the present political scenario, is gearing up for a March 28 release. The makers have two weeks to reply to the notice.