The Salman Khan-hosted reality show Bigg Boss 19, best known for its drama, fights, and endless controversies, has now been dragged into a legal dispute over copyright violations. The allegation is that the makers used two hit songs—Katrina Kaif’s Chikni Chameli and Imran Khan’s Dhat Tere Ki—without obtaining the required authorisation.
Bigg Boss 19 Faces Copyright Case
As reported by Mid-day India, Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) has issued a legal notice to the producers of Bigg Boss 19. The notice claims that in episode 11, which streamed on September 3, the show featured Chikni Chameli from Agneepath and Dhat Tere Ki from Gori Tere Pyaar Mein without securing the “mandatory public performance licence.”
The complaint, served on September 19 by advocate Hiten Ajay Wasan, names Endemol Shine India along with its directors Thomas Gousset, Nicolas Chazarain, and Deepak Dhar as responsible parties. “Both songs are licensed to Sony Music Entertainment India, one of the 450-plus music labels whose public performance rights are exclusively administered by PPL. PPL argues that because Endemol Shine India did not obtain a licence under Section 30 of the Copyright Act 1957, the use amounts to a ‘wilful infringement,’” said a source connected to the legal team.
PPL has demanded that the show’s producers pay ₹2 crore in damages along with the appropriate licence fees. A cease-and-desist notice has also been issued, warning the makers against further unauthorised use of its catalogue. Neither Endemol Shine India nor the streaming partner JioHotstar has released a statement so far.
About Bigg Boss 19
Currently streaming daily on JioCinema at 9 PM and airing on Colors TV at 10:30 PM, the nineteenth season comes with the theme Gharwalon Ki Sarkaar, where contestants have greater decision-making power than Bigg Boss himself. Last Sunday, the show saw its first elimination with social media personality Nagma Mirajkar and Polish actor Natalia Janoszek leaving the house in a double eviction.
The remaining contestants include Gaurav Khanna, Ashnoor Kaur, Nehal Chudasama, Baseer Ali, Zeishaan Quadri, Neelam Giri, Tanya Mittal, Awez Darbar, Kunickaa Sadanand, Farhana Bhatt, and Shehbaz Badesha.
