The much-awaited return of Kangana Ranaut as Rani from the popular film Queen has landed in legal trouble. A major controversy has emerged after Phantom Studios filed a ₹250 crore lawsuit against JioStar India Private Limited, claiming that the upcoming film is being made without their approval.
The legal battle comes shortly after Kangana announced that she had completed shooting for the film, which has been widely referred to as Queen 2. Phantom Studios, which produced the original 2014 hit, has approached the Bombay High Court, alleging that the makers did not have the necessary rights to create a sequel or any continuation of the original story.
According to Phantom Studios’ claims, there was an agreement during the making of Queen that any future sequel, prequel, adaptation, or derivative project would involve equal ownership rights between the parties. The production house stated that it holds a 50% share in the derivative rights of the film and had never given consent for the new project.
The lawsuit seeks to stop the release of the film and demands damages of ₹250 crore. Phantom Studios also claimed that it had been communicating with JioStar since last year regarding its concerns but allegedly received no response.
However, JioStar has rejected the allegations and clarified its position. The company stated that the upcoming film is not a sequel or prequel to Queen but an entirely independent project with a fresh storyline. According to JioStar, the new film has no connection with the original film’s characters, narrative, or creative elements.
The company also argued that the title “Queen” is a common English word and no individual or company can claim exclusive ownership over it.
Released in 2014, Queen became one of Kangana Ranaut’s most celebrated films. Directed by Vikas Bahl and written by Anvita Dutt, the film followed the journey of Rani, a young woman who discovers independence and confidence after travelling alone to Paris following a cancelled wedding.
The film also featured Rajkummar Rao and Lisa Haydon and received widespread critical acclaim. It won National Film Awards, including Best Feature Film and Best Actress for Kangana. Made on a modest budget, the film went on to become a major box-office success.
With the legal dispute now creating uncertainty, fans are eagerly waiting to know whether Kangana’s Queen comeback will move ahead as planned or face further delays. The court’s decision will determine the future of the much-discussed project.
