Reliance-Disney media venture JioStar has initiated legal action against Zee Entertainment over the alleged unauthorised broadcast of Bollywood films whose rights were held by the Reliance-led company, according to a Reuters report.
The dispute marks the latest escalation in an increasingly bitter legal battle between two of India’s biggest media companies, which are already locked in a separate $1 billion arbitration in London linked to a collapsed cricket rights deal.
According to legal documents reviewed by the news agency, JioStar filed a case on May 4 before the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee, accusing Zee of telecasting several Bollywood films last year despite not having the rights to air them at the time.
JioStar, formed after Reliance Industries and Walt Disney merged their Indian media assets in an $8.5 billion deal in 2024, alleged in its filing that Zee broadcast 12 films nearly 20 times without authorisation.
The films reportedly include major Bollywood titles starring actors such as Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan.
In its 120-page plea, JioStar described Zee as a “habitual infringer” and accused the broadcaster of continuing to engage in “unauthorised broadcast and exploitation” of films whose rights allegedly belonged to JioStar.
The filing has not been previously reported.
The matter is currently before the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee, which handles mediation and dispute resolution matters. Reuters reported that Zee has been asked to appear before the committee on May 25. Failure to appear could be treated as refusal to participate in mediation proceedings.
Both JioStar and Zee declined to comment to Reuters.
The latest legal fight comes shortly after Zee sued JioStar in April, accusing it of unauthorised use of copyrighted music after certain licensing agreements allegedly expired.
Zee is reportedly seeking around $3 million in that case.
According to Reuters, sources familiar with the matter said JioStar could seek damages of more than Rs 250 crore in the Bollywood film dispute, although the final amount has not yet been decided.
Legal documents reviewed by Reuters show that the two companies exchanged more than a dozen legal notices and letters starting February this year before the dispute reached the mediation stage.
Among the films mentioned in the case are classic Bollywood hits such as Deewaar and Tridev. JioStar has also accused Zee of unauthorised broadcasts of Aamir Khan’s blockbuster Dangal.
Zee, however, denied wrongdoing in some instances and reportedly argued that it had obtained permission from the relevant production house to broadcast Dangal.
The dispute highlights intensifying competition in India’s rapidly growing media and entertainment industry, where broadcasters and streaming platforms are aggressively battling for content rights, advertising revenue and audience share.