Kangana Ranaut's 'Queen 2' hit with INR2.5b lawsuit over sequel rights dispute

Indian production company Phantom Studios has filed a lawsuit against actor Kangana Ranaut's upcoming Queen 2 sequel, alleging that the project is an unauthorised continuation of the acclaimed 2013 film Queen. According to Gulf News, citing Indian media reports, the production house is seeking INR2.5 billion in damages.

Phantom Studios reportedly first approached JioStar in an attempt to resolve the dispute through settlement discussions. However, after negotiations failed to produce an agreement, the studio decided to pursue legal action.

The legal dispute centres on the rights to Queen, which was originally produced by Phantom Films, the now-defunct production company co-founded by Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Madhu Mantena and Vikas Bahl. The company was dissolved in 2019 following allegations of sexual misconduct against Bahl during India's #MeToo movement.

Released in 2013, Queen emerged as one of Bollywood's most celebrated coming-of-age dramas. Directed by Bahl and headlined by Kangana, the film follows Rani, a young woman who embarks on her honeymoon alone after being abandoned by her fiancé. The film received widespread critical acclaim for its blend of humour, emotional depth and feminist themes, while Kangana's performance earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress. Queen also proved to be a major commercial success, cementing its status as a modern Bollywood classic.

Earlier this year, Kangana announced that Queen would return with a new instalment, reuniting her with Bahl. The upcoming project is expected to continue Rani's journey nearly a decade after the events of the original film.

Neither Kangana nor the makers of the film have publicly responded to the lawsuit.