Filmmaker Hansal Mehta and producer Bhushan Kumar have been asked by the Delhi High Court to appear on October 28, in connection to their upcoming film, Faraaz.

The families of the two victims, Tarishi Jain and Abinta Kabir, who died in the 2016 Dhaka terrorist attack, have filed a lawsuit against the makers. Yatin Grover, who is representing them, says the film’s name is the same as the two girls’ best friend, Faraaz. “He was also a victim of the attack. Mehta and others are making a film on the attack, and they have named it Faraaz. We sent a legal notice as we think that they are going to portray our clients’ daughters as well, and they have not taken consent,” he tells us. 

Grover adds that the makers’ reply was “very vague”. “They said whatever they are going to do, is in public domain. We have asked for a special screening so we know nothing is portrayed wrongly. We have reserved our rights, sought prayers to completely injunct the film, to not use the name Faraaz because that is connected with our daughters’ lives,” he explains.

Grover points out to earlier interviews where they said their film was based on true events, and in their reply to the notice, they said it is a fiction. Our attempts to reach Mehta for a comment weren’t met with a response at the time of going to press.