Madras High Court Blocks Illegal Streaming of Dhurandhar 2 Before Release

The Madras High Court in Reliance Industries Limited v BSNL has restrained the illegal broadcast and streaming of the film Dhurandhar: The Revenge (Dhurandhar 2) ahead of its release. The order was passed by Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy in a commercial suit filed by Reliance Industries Limited.

The case was initiated by Reliance and its media arm, Jio Studios, seeking urgent protection against potential copyright infringement. The producers expressed concern that internet service providers and cable operators might unlawfully transmit or stream the film without authorisation.

The Court considered the fact that the movie was scheduled for release on March 19, 2026. It noted that any unauthorised distribution before or during release could cause serious harm to the commercial interests of the producers. Such acts could result in irreparable financial and reputational damage.

At the same time, the Court recognised that the respondents, including service providers, could also face business impact due to restrictions imposed through such orders. Therefore, the Court sought to balance the interests of both parties before granting relief.

To address this concern, the Court directed Reliance Industries Limited to indemnify the respondents for any potential loss arising from the injunction. This condition was imposed to ensure fairness and accountability while granting protection to the copyright holder.

Subject to this undertaking, the Court granted an ad interim injunction restraining the respondents from broadcasting or transmitting the film unlawfully. The restraint will remain in force until April 15, 2026, unless modified by further orders.

The Court also issued notice to the respondents, seeking their response to the claims made in the suit. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 15.

The film, directed by Aditya Dhar, is a sequel to the 2025 release Dhurandhar. It features Ranveer Singh in the lead role, along with actors Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. The producers had also placed on record the certification issued by the Central Board of Film Certification to establish their rights.

Notably, Reliance had earlier withdrawn a similar suit seeking broad anti-piracy measures. However, in view of the imminent release, the present action was filed to secure targeted interim relief.

This order highlights the judiciary’s continued role in protecting intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry, especially in cases involving digital piracy and unauthorised streaming.