Cult comedy Andaz Apna Apna may have hit the screens 30 years ago, but its dialogues are still everywhere – on memes, mugs, caps, T-shirts. Amar, Prem, Teja, Gogo aren’t just characters, but icons for worth flaunting on merchandise.

Last week, the Delhi High Court issued an ex-parte, ad-interim injunction protecting the film’s IP – its characters, catchphrases, and one-liners from unauthorized use. The case was filed by the family of the late producer Vinay Sinha, and highlighted a growing black market for merchandise, AI-generated content, dodgy domains, and social media posts exploiting the film’s most recognizable catchphrases & dialogues. Think “Aila” on coffee mugs, “Teja main hoon” on posters, or Gogo’s quotes in AI-generated videos. 

- Given the likely inferior nature of these goods, there is a real threat of tarnishment and dilution of the intellectual property of the said film 

- The unauthorized use by the defendants of iconic dialogues, settings from iconic scenes from the film, constitutes infringement of copyright in the literary work and the cinematographic film itself

​Ameet Naik, who represented the producers, said, “This order is a resounding affirmation of the rights of legacy content creators in the digital age. Andaz Apna Apna is not just a film, it’s a part of India’s cultural heritage, and its characters and dialogues enjoy iconic status. The Delhi High Court has recognized the importance of protecting creative works from rampant misappropriation, including by unauthorized merchandise sellers and AI-based content generators. We are grateful for the Court’s timely intervention and believe this order will serve as a critical precedent for safeguarding IP in cinema, especially against newer forms of digital exploitation.”

​The Delhi HC held that the balance of convenience lay in favour of the plaintiff (makers of the film), noting that unauthorized products may mislead the public into believing they were officially licensed. “Any objections to the quality of the defendants’ products will be attributable to the plaintiff, as the public would have purchased such goods under the mistaken impression that they emanate from the plaintiff,” the HC said.

​Everything from Amar-Prem’s banter to Crime Master Gogo’s iconic one-liners, Andaz Apna Apna delivered peak absurdity and unforgettable cult comedy. The producer’s family also cited trademarks on “Aila” and “Ouima”, claiming the phrases have taken on secondary meaning – a legal term for when pop culture becomes so recognizable that people instantly associate it with a specific source. It submitted that the film contains several iconic dialogues and catchphrases that have, over time, acquired popularity and recognition. Due to their extensive use, they have become instantly recognizable and developed a strong secondary meaning in the minds of the public as being exclusively associated with the film.

​YouTube, GoDaddy, Flipkart, Meesho, Desertcart have been told to take down infringing content, and block access. The HC has restrained two dozen platforms and creators from:

- Using any content identical to or derived from the film

- Manufacturing or selling any merchandise or products bearing the film’s IP

- Creating AI-based or digital works that exploit the characters or dialogues