Indian actor files suit against Shah Rukh Khan

[April 04, 2013]  NEW DELHI (AP) -- Indian actor and director Manoj Kumar has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan for releasing a popular 2007 film in Japan without deleting scenes that make fun of him.

Kumar is seeking 1 billion rupees ($18.5 million) in damages from Khan and Eros International, the producers of "Om Shanti Om." The suit was filed Tuesday in a court in a Mumbai suburb, according to Indian media.

Kumar had approached a court when the movie premiered in 2007, objecting to scenes spoofing his mannerisms. In 2008, a Mumbai court ordered that the scenes be deleted from any future screenings, and Khan apologized to Kumar.

Kumar said the film was recently released in Japan without deleting the scenes.

"I had forgiven them earlier, but not this time. They have disrespected me," Kumar said.

The 75-year-old actor played the lead in several films with patriotic themes in the 1960s and '70s. He received one of India's top civilian awards in 1992 and a lifetime achievement award from the Indian film fraternity in 1999.

"Om Shanti Om" is a romantic comedy featuring Khan and Deepika Padukone in lead roles.

The film's director, Farah Khan, said the wrong version of the movie may have been distributed in Japan.

"This has not been done purposely. The film's distributors may have erred and sent an old print to Japan," she told reporters Wednesday. "Anyway, it's time to let go. It's a time to feel happy and proud that it is doing so well in Japan."

[Associated Press]

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