MID-DAY (July 16, 2016)

There seems no end to the woes of 'Great Grand Masti' makers. The adult comedy, which had been leaked online three weeks before its initial release date (July 22), has now raised the hackles of Shiney Ahuja.

The actor has slapped a legal notice on the film's producers, Ekta Kapoor and Ashok Thakeria, as well as director Indra Kumar for naming a maid's character after him.

The notice was served by a Chandigarh-based legal firm which calls for immediate removal of the name Shiney from the film. Model and former Bigg Boss contestant Sonali Raut plays the maid in the sex comedy and according to Shiney's legal team, it appears to be a quirky take on a 2009 rape case where the Life...In A Metro actor's maid levelled rape charges against him. His lawyers believe that with the appeal hearing before the High Court in progress, using his name in a derogatory manner would obstruct justice.

According to them, the conduct of producers at this juncture constitutes Criminal Contempt as defined under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Court Act 1971.

Says director Kumar, "I am not aware of any such notice. My job was only to direct the film."

Shiney, who was sentenced to seven years in jail by a lower court, has filed an appeal against the verdict in the Bombay High Court.