JioStar Sues Zee Entertainment Over Alleged Unauthorized Bollywood Film Broadcasts

JioStar, the media venture formed by Reliance and Walt Disney, has initiated legal proceedings against Zee Entertainment over the alleged unauthorized use of Bollywood films. The company filed the case on 4 May with the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee, a body set up to facilitate mediation between parties.

JioStar alleges that Zee broadcast 12 films around 20 times last year even though broadcast rights belonged to JioStar at the time. The films include titles starring Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan such as the 1975 film Deewaar, Tridev and the 2016 movie Dangal.

" The committee has scheduled a hearing for 25 May and has warned that failure to appear will be treated as refusal to mediate. If mediation does not resolve the matter, JioStar has indicated it will pursue a full court hearing.

The two companies are already engaged in a separate $1 billion arbitration case in London that stems from a collapsed cricket licensing agreement in 2024. The current film-rights dispute follows a lawsuit filed by Zee in April in a Delhi court in which it accused JioStar of unauthorized use of its copyrighted music.

The companies have been exchanging legal notices since February 2025. JioStar holds a 34.2 per cent share of India's television market while Zee has reported an 18 per cent share. JioStar is seeking more than 250 million rupees, equivalent to about $2.61 million, for the alleged infringement.

Zee has responded that the broadcasts were "inadvertent and unintentional" and has declined liability for damages. For the film Dangal, Zee has stated it had permission from the production house. Both companies declined to comment on the ongoing proceedings.