The Good Maharaja: Gujarat ruler's daughters send notice to Omung Kumar over Sanjay Dutt-starrer

The daughters of Maharaja Jam Sahib Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji, the erstwhile ruler of Jamnagar, Gujarat, have sent a cease and desist notice to filmmaker Omung Kumar and Sandeep Singh, co-owners of Legend Studios, for planning to make a biopic on the king’s life, The Good Maharaja, starring Sanjay Dutt in the lead role.

Mumbai Mirror reports that the late ruler’s daughters Hershad Kumari and Himanshu Kumari have objected to possible distortion of facts in unofficial the biopic of their father. The same report quotes their legal representative, Faranaaz Karbhari, as saying, “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.”

However, while Singh confirmed that he received the notice, the same report states that he sees no reason in seeking permission from the king’s family for a biopic. “Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji’s story is in the public domain. Even today they celebrate Maharaja Day in Poland. I didn’t think we were required to take the rights from his heirs. Today, people are looking for free publicity. Whenever a project is announced, someone or the other takes on the filmmaker.”

The Good Maharaja will reportedly go on the floors after a year-and-a-half, because it has to be made on a large scale with the Polish government backing it.