Puja Changoiwala Files Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Makers of Oscar Contender Homebound

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Puja Changoiwala has sued Dharma Productions and Netflix India. The author claims the film Homebound, now an Oscar contender, has plagiarized content from her 2021 novel. This case questions the work ethics of major studios and raises concerns about the rights of independent writers in India. The case may have an impact on how the industry protects original stories.

Allegations of Title Misappropriation and Plot Plagiarism

Puja has sued Dharma Productions and Netflix India for plagiarism. She claims the film Homebound uses her 2021 novel’s name and content. Both works center on the 2020 COVID-19 migrant crisis. After watching the movie, she felt the producers took her title. She also found the second half very similar to her writing.

She stated, “Upon watching the film, I discovered that the producers have not only misappropriated the title of my book, but have also blatantly reproduced substantial portions of my novel in the second half of the film—including its scenes, dialogue, narrative structure, sequence of events, and other creative expressions.” The author noted the film was written in 2022. This was long after her book reached the public.

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This case exposes a possible creative vacuum within major film studios. Many big production houses now seek independent books to find authentic stories. They might use these stories to add depth to commercial films. However, they sometimes ignore the legal rights of local authors. It shows a lack of careful checks for original scripts in Bollywood. This trend exploits the hard work of writers for corporate profit.

Legal Remedies Sought in the Bombay High Court

The author is moving to the Bombay High Court for protection. Her lawyer sent a formal notice to the makers on 15 October. This notice lists every scene she believes was copied. The producers denied all claims of copyright violation in their replies. She then filed with the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority and wants a permanent ban on the film's distribution.

The writer also demands the removal of all stolen parts and insists that the producers change the movie's title immediately. She explained, “I know I'm challenging powerful entities by taking this step, but I believe it's important for writers to defend their work when it's misappropriated and exploited without their consent.” The battle for her creative rights continues.

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This fight is a true "David vs. Goliath" moment for Indian creators. A win for Changoiwala could change how Bollywood handles "inspired" scripts. Studios might finally start paying for proper licenses instead of taking ideas. It proves that a book's title is now a very valuable brand. The film industry can no longer dominate title rights without a fight. This case sets a major precedent for future writers.