Omung Kumar’s ambitious project, a biopic on the ruler of Nawanagar, Maharaja Jam Sahib Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji, appears to be in peril. Omung and Sandeep Singh are the co-owners of the venture on the ruler of Jamnagar, Gujarat, who saved several Polish children from Nazis during World War II. However, the late Maharaja’s daughters have evidently sent a cease and desist notice to Omung Kumar and Sandeep Singh. The princesses have objected to a possible distortion of facts in the film planned on their father’s life.

Their legal representative Faranaaz Karbhari avers, “The Maharaja was a public figure and if the facts are distorted, it will tarnish his image. Hence our clients have objection to the film, as no permission is sought from them.”

…And there is no point in seeking permission for the biopic, maintains Sandeep Singh. He avers that Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji’s story is in the public domain, to the extent that till this day Maharaja Day is celebrated in Poland. He believes that they were not required to take the rights from his heirs, insinuating that today, people are looking for free publicity and whenever a project is announced, someone or the other takes on the filmmaker.

With the receipt of the legal notice, however, the required permissions will have to necessarily be taken, if the film is to progress and release after a year-and-a-half.

The project has also been hit by allegations that Sanjay Dutt, who was poised to play the title role, is apparently battling serious doubts. His faith in director Omung Kumar has evidently been shaken post the debacle of his comeback film, Bhoomi. What’s more, a cloud also surrounds Omung’s third film with Dut - Malang, to be directed by his assistant, debutant Arambh Singh.

The sad reality of a flop – suddenly it impacts all future projects, associations and even friendships.