Cosmetics manufacturer Emami and branded jeans maker Killer Jeans have filed separate criminal complaints in a court of magistrate against film maker Rakesh Roshan, his actor son Hrithik and their firm Filmkraft Productions (India) for allegedly violating agreements on displaying the products of the company in their latest film Koi Mil Gaya.
The complaints were filed on December 9 by the two companies in the court of additional chief metropolitan A M Garde at suburban Andheri.
The cases would come up for hearing on February 7, lawyer for the complainant companies Ashok Sarogi told said on Thursday.
The complainants have alleged that the Roshans had allegedly committed criminal breach of trust and cheating by going back on their agreements to show the products of the companies in some shots of the film.
It was agreed between the parties that for a certain consideration, the film would be shot in Mall Road, a hill station in north India, and in the background the products of the company would be displayed Emami alleged that the Roshans had agreed to shoot a scene with the heroine Preity Zinta holding a company product in a beauty parlour and they also promised to show close shots of the article held by her.
In return, the company had paid Rs 12 lakh (Rs 1.2 million) in instalments.
Similarly, Killer Jeans alleged that the Roshans had agreed to shoot a scene in which the hero Hrithik would be picturised wearing the brand.
However, both the companies claimed that the shots were not found in the movie on its release in theatres all over India recently.
They charged the Roshans with cheating.
There is a clause in the agreement which provides for arbitration. But this could be invoked in a civil case and not when criminal action was being sought, lawyer Sarogi said.
A spokesman for Rakesh Roshan said they have not received notices from the court and would file a reply when the cases come up for hearing.
