If the makers of the new Zanjeer felt they could easily release their film on September 6, then they’re mistaken. Javed Akhtar is in no mood to relent. On the contrary Akhtar, who has been fighting a long copyright battle in the courts alleging that the remake is illegal, says there is no way new Zanjeer can be released until the matter is resolved.
Says the irate writer, “How can they announce the release date when the matter is sub judice? Do they think it’s a joke? Don’t they understand the law? Until the matter of the remake rights is sorted out in the court, the film cannot be released.” Akhtar says he is appalled by the unperturbed manner in which the makers of the Zanjeer remake are going about promoting their film heedless of the law.
“It’s almost as if they believe the legal matter would vanish by magic and it will be in the theatres on the day they’ve announced. Either they don’t understand the law or think I’m going to back down. There is no way they can get away with this. I am taking my fight against this unauthorised remake as far as it goes,” he proclaims, while his creative partner Salim Khan who co-wrote the original Zanjeer, is also taking the legal battle to its logical conclusion.
Zanjeer remake producer Puneet Mehra and director Apoorva Lakhia refused to comment.
