Ownership of Fanney Khan has seen its change of hands. After Prernaa Arora of KriArj Entertainment exited, T-Series’ Bhushan Kumar and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra took over as producers of Atul Manjrekar’s Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao-starrer Fanney Khan. However, the unveiling of the first poster of the film on Sunday has elicited an unexpected response… Vashu Bhagnani has issued a public notice claiming rights over the film.

The notice states that his company, Pooja Entertainment and Films Limited had entered into agreements with KriArj whereby they had acquired rights for Batti Gul Meter Chalu starring Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Yami Gautam directed by Shree Narayan Singh, and Fanney Khan.

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The notice claims that Bhagnani has the exhibition, distribution and exploitation of commercial and non-commercial theatrical rights for all India territories of both the films, as also right in perpetuity to 15 per cent overflow and the right that the films would not be released without his prior permission, approval and consent in writing.

Vashu maintains, “Yes, I have sent legal notices to Bhushan, Prernaa and Rakeysh on Monday claiming the rights to these films. For Fanney Khan, I have the all-India distribution rights and am entitled to producer’s credit, while in Baati Gul Meter Chalu I have the producer title and a commitment of the all-India distribution of the film. I’ve documents supporting my claims, except for the distribution agreement of Batti Gul Meter Chalu which Prernaa had promised me would be made once the film goes on the floors but that didn’t happen.”

Vashu claims nobody can release Fanney Khan as the rights are with him. He had apparently invested more than Rs.6 crore initially in Batti Gul Meter Chalu and around Rs.8 crore in Fanney Khan. Prernaa, the previous producer of these films, had borrowed from other filmmakers, including Bhushan and Vashu.

Apparently, out-of-court settlements are being worked out by Bhushan and Prernaa to sort out these issues. Meanwhile, T-Series claims that they hold the rights adding that Bhagnani’s claims would not hold up in court.