Ram Gopal Varma says his Sholay different from Sippy's 'Sholay'

New Delhi, Feb 14 (UNI) Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma today told the Delhi High Court that his 'Ram Gopal Varma ke Sholay' is different from the Ramesh Sippy's 'Sholay' and prayed for quashing of the stay granted by the court.

Maharastra Advocate General Ravi Kadam appearing for Varma submitted before Justice Geeta Mittal that the script of 'Ram Gopal Varma ke Sholay' is set in an urban location and the dialogue of the characters are also different.

Directing the petitioner Sascha Sippy, son of Vijay Sippy the producer of 'Sholay' and other respondents to file written arguments, Justice Mittal adjourned the matter for further hearing till March 2.

Mr Kadam contended that the Delhi High Court did not have the jurisdiction to hear the petition as both the petitioner and respondents are based at Mumbai.

Counsel for Sascha Sippy, Parveen Anand accused Varma of copying the original script and characters of the blockbuster flick.

On October 19, last year Sascha Sippy, the director of Sippy Films, filed a petition seeking direction to restrain Varma from using the words 'Sholay', 'Gabbar' and 'Gabbar Singh' in his film with a similar title.

The Court had issued notices to Varma, 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.

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

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.

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