Varma in trouble for using 'Sholay', 'Gabbar' in his remake

New Delhi, Oct 19 (UNI) The Delhi High Court has issued notices to film director Ram Gopal Varma and his production unit K Sera Sera on a petition filed by Sascha Sippy, the director of Sippy Films, seeking direction to restrain them from using the words 'Sholay', 'Gabbar' and 'Gabbar Singh' in the new film 'Ram Gopal Varma ke Sholay'.

Justice Geeta Mittal has also issued notices to P M Sanghvi, the managing director of K Sera Sera, and Ajit Sippy, the son of G P Sippy, the producer of the original 'Sholay', to file their replies to the allegations in the petition by November 20, the next date of hearing.

Varma has started the shooting of the film with superstar Amitabh Bachchan in the role of Gabbar Singh.

The petition said the script and screenplay of Sholay are the original literary work, protected under the sections 14 and 51 of the Copyright Act of 1957.

These three catchy and popular words had been registered under the statutory provisions of both the Copyright Act and the Trademark Act, said the petition.

Senior Counsel Rajiv Nayar appearing for defendant Varma said he would file the reply before the next date of hearing.

Before producing the film, Varma had bought the rights to produce the remake of the film from Ajit Sippy, the bonafide rights holder of the film.

UNI PAT BDP HT1637